THE ADVER won a double at industry awards held yesterday.

We picked up two awards at the EDF Energy South West Media Awards 2012 at a ceremony held in Bath.

The first gong was for News Photographer of the Year which was awarded to Adver photographer James Douglas.

James said: “I am overwhelmed – it is just so exciting.

“I was shaking when I went to collect my award from the stage.

“I am absolutely delighted to have even been nominated let alone winning the award.

“It is a high point of my career and I am chuffed that I have had some recognition for my hard work over the past year at the Adver. Photography is not just my job, it is my passion.”

We were also awarded with Front Page of the Year for our story on 14-year-old Chloe Holmes who became the youngest person in Europe to be fitted with bionic fingers.

Our front page – with the headline ‘Handchuffed’ – detailed how Chloe was fitted with a £38,000 bionic hand after losing her own limb when she contracted chickenpox as a toddler.

The awards were held in the Assembly Rooms and were attended by more than a hundred reporters, photographers, editors and media professionals.

Group editor Gary Lawrence said he was thrilled the paper was recognised. He said: “I am delighted that we picked up a couple of awards which cover both the editorial and photographic side of the paper.

“We aim to make each edition of the Adver the best one we can and so it is great to be recognised by the industry. I am pleased for everyone at the Adver – it is a team effort, so we accept these accolades on behalf of everyone who works at the paper.”