Archant’s Kent Life has been named Kent Magazine of the Year at the first-ever Kent Press and Broadcast Awards.

Editor Sarah Sturt was presented with the award by Bryn Price of category sponsor Safer Kent.

Sarah said: “I am so delighted Kent Life has been awarded Kent Magazine of the Year in the Kent Press & Broadcast Awards. I would like to thank my wonderful freelance writers who support me so brilliantly, the magnificent photography of Manu Palomeque and the rest of our team.”

The awards at Kent County Cricket Club’s Spitfire ground at St Lawrence in Canterbury were hosted by veteran TV newscaster Peter Sissons.

Archant was well represented at the awards being shortlisted in three other categories.

Kent on Sunday was a finalist in the Newspaper of the Year category. KOS reporter Jamie Weir was shortlisted in the Kent Sports Journalist of the Year and he and KOS reporterSarah Linney were finalists in Kent Feature Journalist of the Year.

The organisers said: “We received 143 entries from more than 100 individuals for the first Kent Press & Broadcast Awards. Some categories had as many as 29 entries, so the judges had a very difficult job selecting the finalists. The standard was high across the board, so all entrants should be congratulated.”

Archant Kent publisher, Simon Irwin, said: “We were delighted when Kent Life won the magazine category and it was a great result to be finalists in four categories. It is great to see everyone’s hard work recognised.”

Pictured above, editor Sarah Sturt is presented with the award by Bryn Price of category sponsor Safer Kent.