The Kent Messenger’s campaign to find Pat Lamb has been nominated for a prestigious national award but we are dependent upon your vote to receive it.

Members of the public have until 5pm on Wednesday to place their vote.

Kent Search and Rescue gained an extra 24 volunteers following the KM’s coverage of Pat Lamb’s disappearance.

A huge search effort was triggered after the 28-year-old disappeared during a night out in Maidstone in mid-December.

Sadly the body of the broadcast engineer, from Greenhithe, was discovered in the River Medway nearly a month later.

The KM did its best to help raise awareness for the cause, with reporter Ed McConnell joining search teams and distributed missing posters around Maidstone.

Paul Lewis, chairman of Kent Search and Rescue, said: “We are extremely grateful to the KM Group for the coverage they provided during the search for Patrick Lamb in December 2014.

“The press coverage not only raised awareness of the case but by providing specific details, CCTV footage and direct requests for information, we were able to construct a more efficient search plan.

“As a direct result of the coverage, we received a record number of enquiries from members of the public wanting to volunteer with Kent Search & Rescue in both operational and support roles.

“As a charity funded entirely by public donations, this level of coverage and consequential support from the communities in Kent has proved priceless.

“Working directly with KM Reporters on the ground, we were able to provide more accurate information and imagery that kept the story front page and top of minds in what was a busy pre-Christmas period.”

Jasper Gerard, the defeated Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Maidstone and the Weald, said: “Before being a full time candidate I spent my career as a national newspaper columnist and I can tell you that the KM is regarded as one of the finest papers in the entire country.

“People trust it in a way they don’t always do with some of the nationals these days.
“It is especially pleasing that they are nominated for awards for campaigning journalism which I believe is what newspapers should be all about.”