A Wimbledon Guardian reporter has been nominated for a top industry award for her writing which included an ongoing investigation into housing repairs fraud.
Louisa Clarence-Smith has been nominated for weekly reporter of the year in the Regional Press Awards.
They celebrate the best of British regional and local newspaper journalism in 2014 in print and online, and are run by the Society of Editors.
Her entries included a series of ongoing articles into alleged fraud at one of Britain's largest housing associations Circle Housing Merton Priory. The story began when frustrated housing association residents complained of overcharging for repairs work and has led to whistleblowers coming forward, and an initial independent audit finding proof that overcharging was taking place.
September 2014: Firm investigates whistleblower's over-charging claims
She also wrote about the campaign to help an ethnic minority bone marrow match for leukaemia patient Kevin Kararwa, given one week to live. Kevin died five days later but not before setting in motion work to increase the number of people from ethnnic minorities on the UK bone marrow register.
May 2014: Dying leukaemia patient Kevin Kararwa appeals to public to join bone marrow register
Her final entry started with a tweet from a Mitcham police officer in 2014 of a Scorpion sub-machine gun find, and led to exclusive reporting of the trial of a convict operating a gun-running ring from his prison cell. Her story was picked up by the national newspapers and the BBC and has led to an inquiry into security at the prison.
The awards will be handed out at a lunchtime ceremony at the Marriott Grosvenor Square Hotel on Friday, May 15, hosted by LBC presenter Nick Ferrari.
For the full shortlist of entries click here.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article