THE Runcorn and Widnes World has been short-listed for free distribution newspaper of the year in the 2014 O2 Media Awards North West.

The title is in the running for the prize alongside sister titles, the St Helens Star and Wirral Globe, and Southport-based Champion newspapers and Midweek Visitor.

The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Imperial War Museum in Manchester on November 13, hosted by BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin.

Nicola Green, director of communications and reputation at O2 UK, said the judging panels were ‘hugely impressed’ by this year’s entries.

She said: “I know that in every single category the selection of the finalists was a bitterly contested and often heated affair.

“So many people came so close to being nominated but missed out by the narrowest of margins.

“The panels wanted me to pass on their thanks and commiserations to all those who didn’t make the final line-up but make these awards so popular.

“The presentation evening will be a celebration of all that is good about regional media.

“It’s just a pity that we can’t get everyone who took part in this year’s awards into the room.”

With more than 350 entries, the O2 Awards are hailed as the biggest regional press awards in the country.

Judging panels included working editors and senior news executives from print, radio and television.

They spent more than 100 hours sifting through entries across 20 media categories.