A COMMUNITY newspaper has been named runner-up in the publication of the year category of a national competition.

Richmondshire District Council's twice-yearly newspaper was also second in the community involvement category and third for photography and imagery.

The competition is open to all UK public sector organisations.

The successes came in the 2002 Northcliffe press awards, designed to promote best practice in publishing in the public sector.

The Curlew is produced on behalf of the authority by Jackie Mackenzie and Associates, a Richmond journalism and public relations company, and distributed to all households in the district.

Jackie Mackenzie, director of the company, said: "This winning edition of The Curlew was the first issue that we produced for the council, so we were naturally delighted by its success."