KentOnline has been named the county's best news service at a glitzy awards ceremony today.

Team members picked up the honour at the Shepherd Neame Kent Media Awards bash in Faversham.

kmfm's Lauren Hood - also part of the KentOnline team - was highly commended in the Broadcaster of the Year category.

Overall, the KM Group virtually swept the board at the annual event with six winners.

The Gravesend and Dartford Messenger's Simon Tulett was named Newspaper Journalist of the Year.

His paper also won Campaign of the Year for its hard-hitting sex trade expose.

The KM's Luke Cawdell, who covers Gillingham FC, won Sports Journalist of the Year.

Feature Writer of the Year was won by Lesley Bellew for her series of World War Two supplements.

And Young Journalist of the Year went to the Kentish Gazette's Katie Alston - for the second time.

Editorial director Ian Carter said: "This is a fantastic result, and shows that even in challenging times we provide news services that are second to none.

"The award for KentOnline is particularly gratifying as it is something we can all be proud of."

Jonathan Neame, chief executive of Shepherd Neame, said: "We are delighted to sponsor these awards and reward the achievements of Kent's finest journalists.

"They provide a first-class media service and this year we were pleased to see a record number of entries."