Staff from across the KM Group have been accepting a raft of awards at the Kent Press and Broadcast Awards this afternoon.

The ceremony was hosted by Cathy Newman at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence in Canterbury, and organised by Maxim PR.

It recognises the best in press and broadcast journalism in the county.

Award winners for the KM Group included: Lizzie Massey for Kent Print Journalist of the year; Alex Claridge for Kent Columnist of the year; Debbie Neech for Newspaper Designer of the year; Gareth Arnold for Digital Journalist of the year; Martin Apps for Press Photographer of the year and Tom Acres, who jointly won Young Journalist of the year with Jordan Bluer.

KentOnline and Kent Messenger jointly won the best use of social media category.

Highly commended were Gary Browne, in the press photographer category; Matthew Panting in the newspaper designer category; Steve Tervet in the sports journalist category and Annabel Rusbridge-Thomas in the digital journalist section.

The Dartford Messenger and Gravesend Messenger were highly commended in the Newspaper of the year category.

Josie Hannett was awarded a special commendation in the broadcast journalist category.