The ceremony, held at The Customs House in South Shields, celebrated the hard work of journalists, photographers and sub editors working at Northeast Press's newspapers.

The Echo won six awards, the Hartlepool Mail also picked up six, the Shields Gazette two, the Northumberland Gazette two, the News Post Leader two and the Morpeth Herald one.

Echo reporter Ross Robertson scooped an award for daily trainee of the year and the night's host Peter Darrant, operations director at the theatre, praised him for his ability to "handle major news stories and quirky, off-beat tales with equal aplomb".

He was also highly commended for his story about teenager Rachel Bell who trashed her parents' house after party details were posted on a website.

The Echo's deputy editor, Richard Ord, was awarded Best Columnist after he had the judging panel "laughing out loud".

"Leading light" Lee Hall, the Echo's digital editor, came up trumps in the best online contribution category.

And the Echo's chief photographer, Tony Colling, won two awards.

His moving picture of a grieving sister scooped him best picture of the year and his "technical achievement across a wide range of photographic studies" saw him win best portfolio of pictures.

Echo photographer Tom Yeoman was also highly commended in this category for his portfolio of "stunning pictures".

Women's editor Linda Colling came out top in the best feature category and was told she is "a credit to her newspaper".

Echo assistant chief sub editor, John Bainbridge, was highly commended in the category of best front page for his "arresting design" on the death of Black Cats' legend Ian Porterfield.

And the Echo's Walk For Justice campaign was also highly commended for "highlighting and encouraging a protest at rising levels of high crimes and the lack of real sentences for serious offenders, including murderers".

Rob Lawson, Sunderland Echo editor, said: "I'm delighted at the success of the awards and that so many of the Echo's talented journalists were recognised."