MALVERN Gazette and Ledbury Reporter trainee Jo Lafferty has already picked up an award.

Miss Lafferty, from Malvern, is about to complete her preliminary training at Darlington College. She will begin her apprenticeship at the Gazette's Malvern office later this month.

She is the winner of a best news and features award for trainees on the Darling-ton course. It was presented by Liz Page, managing director of the York Evening Press.

Tutor Jon Smith said: "Jo made excellent contacts in her allocated area of town and came up with first class news and feature pages."