NORTHERN Echo photographer Mike Urwin has been named Photographer of the Year at the Regional Press Awards 2000 in London.
Mike was the only photographer to be nominated in both the news and sports categories.
His winning news portfolio featured a shot of then health secretary Frank Dobson as he laid the foundation stone for a new hospital in Durham, a portrait of actor and Durham University Chancellor Peter Ustinov, and a stunning image of Liam Lyons - a one-year-old from Darlington who survived three life-saving operations.
The judges' citation read: "There were a record number of entries . . . The clear winner was Mike Urwin. His pictures, which included a strong emotional picture of a mother and baby, showed his ability to capture an atmosphere."
The Northern Echo's prolific writer Mike Amos was nominated for Columnist of the Year at yesterday's awards, held at London's Hilton Hotel.
The latest award comes on the heels of a clutch of top prizes landed by The Great Daily of the North.
In May, it was named North-East Newspaper of the Year and, last month, was judged Daily Newspaper of the Year in the Newsquest Awards, hosted by its parent company.
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