The Macclesfield Express has been shortlisted for an award in what are known as the ‘Oscars of regional journalism’.

We are up for Weekly Newspaper of the Year at the 2015 Regional Press Awards.

It follows a busy year for the Express in which we have led the campaign to find out the whole story of how taxpayers money was wasted during the botched bid to build a waste transfer centre at Lyme Green.

We also helped to win a reprieve for Hollins View and brought out an extra edition to bring readers the news of the conviction of two people for the murder of Zain Sailsman.

The newspaper award run by the Society of Editors is open to all titles across the UK.

We will go up against the Bath Chronicle, Brentwood Gazette, Cambrian News, Keighley News and Kent Messenger at the central London ceremony on May 15.

Express editor Gareth Tidman said: “We are up against the cream of the local press so just being nominated is a recognition the hard work that is put in to fight for the people of Macclesfield and to produce a paper that informs, entertains and really gets to grips with the big issues in the town. We’ve got our fingers crossed for May 15.”