Luke Cawdell, the Medway Messenger's Gills correspondent, has been crowned Kent's best sports reporter.

The 31-year-old was named Sports Journalist of the Year at the annual Shepherd Neame media awards on Friday.

Luke, who has covered Gillingham FC for the KM Group for six years, picked up the honour at a presentation in Faversham.

He said: "I'm delighted. I'd like to thank all my colleagues because it really is a team effort.

"It's been an interesting few years covering the Gills and sport across Kent and I feel quite lucky to have been part of it."

North Kent regional sports editor Matthew Panting said: "We are all really proud of him and he thoroughly deserves it.

"He travels near and far for the Gills and has real inside knowledge of the club."

The KM Group virtually swept the board at the event with six winners, including News Service of the Year for KentOnline.

Got a Gills-related question? Ask the award winning Luke Cawdell from 1pm on Monday during his live web chat on www.kentonline.co.uk/sport.