EVENING Press Chief Reporter Mike Laycock has picked up a prestigious award for his tireless efforts in the name of local news.

Mike, 42, is one of only six winners of the Unsung Heroes award, presented by our U.S.-based parent company, Gannett. The prize is 1,000 dollars.

The judges decided to honour Mike for his extensive campaign work, as well as his overall devotion to providing the best in local news.

They also commended his ability to champion "the weak, the vulnerable, or the underdog".

In the past two years, Mike has campaigned for urgent medical treatment for local women Gail Hepworth and Yasmin Heesom, helped to protect the parents of a victim of IRA terrorist Paul Magee, and battled for flood defences for North Yorkshire and the East Riding.

The Gannett panel also appreciated Mike's efforts to raise cash for the New York firefighters in the wake of the September 11 atrocities.

Evening Press editor Liz Page said: "He epitomises all that is best about local newspapers."

Mike was the only British employee to win an award, as each of the other five hailed from news companies in the States.

The winners were announced in McLean, Virginia, by Mimi A Feller, Gannett's senior vice-president of public affairs and government relations.

Mike, an Evening Press reporter for 16 years, will travel to Washington, DC, to receive his award next week.

He said today: "I was gobsmacked when I got a phone call from America to tell me I had won this award.

"It's really exciting, and I'm looking forward to travelling to America to receive it."

Updated: 11:01 Friday, January 04, 2002