SWIFTER than a weaver's shuttle and just as accurate, Shuttle/ Times and News reporter Alex Day has beaten off competition from hundreds of trainees across the UK to land a prestigious prize.

Alex, 21, of Quinton, Birmingham, who joined Newsquest Midlands just over two years ago, won £250 for the best report of a speech in the National Certificate Examinations. prize-winning newly-qualified senior reporter Alex Day with his National Certificate in Newspaper Journalism.

Candidates must take down an eight-minute speech in shorthand and then write a 300-word story from the information within an hour.

In the examination's other sections candidates answer questions on newspaper practice and conduct and write up an interview. More than 250 trainees sat the exams, organised by the National Council for the Training of Journalists in April. Alex passed all parts to qualify as a senior reporter.

A keen Baggies fan, his success has set the seal on a year which has already seen West Bromwich Albion elevated to football's Premiership.

He said: "This was the big one - it is what I have been working towards for the past two years so just to get through it was great.

"But I never dreamt I would produce the best speech paper and, although I don't want to tempt fate, I hope my reports for the Shuttle/Times and News continue to be just as accurate!"