SWINDON Advertiser staff will fight it out against the best reporters in the region after notching up eight nominations at the EDF Energy South West of England Media Awards.

This year the Adver has eight nominations, including Website Of The Year. Reporters Mike Benke and Dominic Gilbert are up for Newcomer Of The Year, while Scott D’Arcy and Beren Cross are nominated in the Print Journalist Of the Year (Daily) category.

Scott is also nominated for Specialist Reporter Of The Year for his crime portfolio.

In the Columnist Of The Year category, Barrie Hudson has received a nomination.

Barry Leighton is nominated for Feature Writer Of The Year.

The EDF Energy Regional Media Awards honour the best in journalism across Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Bristol, Somerset, Cornwall and Devon.

This year there were more than 300 entries, across 20 categories.

Editor Gary Lawrence said: “I’m delighted that we’ve received so many nominations this year, it’s recognition of all the hard work our staff put in to making the Adver such a great newspaper.”

The awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, July 3.