AN Evening News reporter has been shortlisted for Scoop of the Year award for being the first journalist to break the news of plans to open an asylum seekers hostel at Throckmorton.

Alison Fraser is one of 12 reporters competing for the Birmingham Press Club award.

In January last year, Alison, who has been with the Evening News since 2000, was the first to break the news of the possibility of a 750-bed hostel being opened on the airfield near Pershore.

The 26-year-old is up against competition from reporters on the Evening Mail, Birmingham Post, Sunday Mercury, Central News and the Shrewsbury Chronicle.

The winner will be announced during an awards evening at Birmingham's Burlington Hotel on Thursday, March 20.

It is to be hosted by former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie and Carlton TV's Bob Warman.

This is the first year the awards have been held and include other categories such as reporter, newspaper and ''irritant'' of the year.