RETIRED broadcaster Eddie Hemmings, who lives in Appleton, is now the proud owner of an award acknowledging his career achievements.

The honour, and significant tributes, came his way at the O2 Media Awards North West event in Eccles.

An O2 Stand Out Award was presented to Liverpool-born Hemmings, who worked at Warrington Guardian at the start of his career, to mark his 30 plus years in the industry with the BBC and Sky Sports.

Warrington Golf Club captain Hemmings, who stepped down as the voice of rugby league earlier this year, received tributes from former colleagues Harry Gration of Look North and Sky Sports’ Jeff Stelling and Martin Tyler as well as a host of former star players.

A journalist who suffered “catastrophic” brain injuries in an unprovoked street attack, but fought back to return to the job he calls “his passion”, was given a standing ovation by guests.

Sports writer Gary Carter, a regular with his wife Gemma covering Warrington Wolves matches up and down the country, was in a coma for six weeks after being punched to the ground in London where he was working on an England rugby league international in 2015.

More than 300 journalists and media professionals from the North West attended at the AJ Bell Stadium in Salford learned how he spent four years in rehabilitation, learning how to walk and talk again, before joining the editorial team at Local Communications Limited, publishers of the Saddleworth Independent, to rediscover his writing and interview skills.

Carter, who began his career on the Tameside Reporter before stints at the Lancashire Telegraph, Manchester Evening News and The Sun, was awarded an O2 Stand Out Award for his courage and determination.

Warrington Guardian's Isobel Contogni was highly commended in the young reporter of the year category.