A SCHOOLBOY has received a £1,000 prize after winning a national award for journalism.

Rory Lewis, 11, has been announced as the Young Journalist of the Year out of hundreds of entries who were judged by a panel of industry experts.

Rory, who attends King Edward VI Grammar School in Broomfield Road, said: “Winning Young Journalist of the Year feels absolutely brilliant.

“It is so wonderful that the judges thought my article was worthy.

“I have always loved reading and writing.

“I enjoy keeping up with what’s happening around the world, which is why I read First News.

“I would love to be a writer or a journalist when I am older.

“I wrote about a subject that I feel very passionate about - young people making their voices heard and forming their own opinions.”

Rory started his career early, launching and editing the newspaper of his primary school.

Now his column that he entered into the competition will be posted on the First News website for thousands to read.

The competition, which was run by stationary company, Stabilo, have also awarded Rory and his classmates with £1,000 worth of products to keep them writing for the rest of the year.

Vanya Hunter, Marketing Manager at Stabilo, congratulated Rory for winning the competition which is now in its fifth year.

She said: “The talent of our young journalists surprises us every year.

“It is such a joy to read the children’s work.

“It is extremely difficult to whittle it down to just twelve finalists, let alone one winner.

“The standard was the highest it has ever been, there were some truly inspiring articles and stories, with the environment being the most popular subject.

“Congratulations to Rory, we hope that he and everyone else who entered the competition continues to write.”