The Faversham News, part of the Gazette stable, claimed a prestigious industry prize this week.

The paper won front page of the year at the EDF Energy London and the South of England Media Awards 2011.

In a ceremony at the Lord’s cricket ground in London, the judges praised the Faversham News front page of May 5 which was headlined Murdered Teenager’s Body Discovered By Side Of Busy Road.

They said: "A clever headline that would have stopped readers in their tracks.

"The remains were Roman, but with that kind of headline alongside such a striking image – you’re going to want to pick it up and find out more."

After winning the top prize last year, the Kentish Gazette was highly commended in the Weekly Newspaper of the Year (paid-for) category while its reporter Joe Walker was also highly commended in the Print Journalist of the Year (weekly) contest.

He was joined by our political editor Paul Francis who was also highly commended in the Print Journalist of the Year category and in the Columnist of the Year competition.

Among the other KM Group nominations were Nikki White from the Medway Messenger who was also highly commended in the Columnist of the Year category, business editor Trevor Sturgess highly commended in the Business Journalist of the Year section and our sister paper for Maidstone, the Kent Messenger, which was highly commended in the Weekly Newspaper of the Year and the Community Campaign of the Year categories.

Editor Leo Whitlock, who designed the front page, said: "The fact that our newspapers and journalists from throughout the group racked up so many nominations is testament to the fact that we have really talented and hardworking teams in our newsrooms.

"They are dedicated to getting right to the heart of their communities through their newspapers, their websites and radio stations - something no other media company in Kent can do."