The Westmorland Gazette has been shortlisted in the most prestigious newspaper awards in the country.

The newspaper has beaten off competition from hundreds of other weekly titles and will learn whether it has won the title of Weekly Newspaper of the Year (for papers with a circulation above 20,000) at a glittering ceremony to be held at the Lancaster London Hotel on May 16.

The Society of Editors’ Regional Press Awards celebrate the best of British regional and local newspaper journalism.

Chairman of the judges Paul Horrocks said: “Once again the judges have been astounded by the scale and quality of the entries that come out of the regional and local press.”

The Weekly Newspaper of the year category seeks to recognise newspapers that offer service to the local community, great exclusives, successful campaigns and outstanding journalism.

In its award entry, the Gazette highlighted the depth and breadth of local news coverage; regular in-paper supplements, including Estate and Country; and successful campaigns such as Driving Hospice Care, which raised £42,000 in just six weeks to buy 4x4 vehicles for Hospice at Home nurses.