A FAMILIAR face to the region's viewers won a television industry award at the weekend, on the eve of achieving a broadcasting landmark.

Mike Neville, anchorman for Tyne Tees Television's North-East Tonight, is about to clock up 40 years' continuous daily broadcasting since starting with the station in February 1962.

He is believed to be the first presenter in British television history to appear on screen for four decades uninterrupted.

As an aperitif to the anniversary he stepped up to receive an accolade for Outstanding Achievement at the Royal Television Society (RTS) North-East and Borders awards dinner, on Saturday.

The news veteran, who worked for the BBC in the region between his stints with Tyne-Tees, received an ovation at the Federation Brewery's Lancastrian Suite, in Gateshead.

A recorded tribute was given by Prime Minister Tony Blair during a video outlining the "Neville years" played at the ceremony, hosted by former colleague Nicholas Owen, now an ITN newsreader.

Tyne-Tees will screen a tribute, Mike Neville - A Life in Television, featuring contributions from North-East celebrities, on Sunday, February 17.

Saturday's RTS ceremony saw BBC Look North presenter Carol Malia being named Regional Television Personality of the Year. Colleague Chris Stewart won the Regional TV Journalist category, and BBC Radio Newcastle's local historian Ian Robinson took the Best Feature Item award.