Holt man Marcus Mears received a standing ovation after he was named News Deliverer of the Year in a national contest held in London last night, Tuesday October 18.

Mr Mears, 38, of Charles Road, was nominated by his boss at Starlings newsagent and toy shop, on Holt's High Street, after three recent incidents when his eagle eyes and initiative helped save lives and catch criminals.

He pipped two other worthy finalists at the awards ceremony, attended by more than 300 people, and received an engraved trophy plus a cheque for �350.

Mr Mears is travelling back to Norfolk today and is due back on his rounds tomorrow. Speaking from the train this morning he said the victory wouldn't change him.

He added: 'It hasn't sunk in yet. They pulled me up last - I was surprised.'

Mr Mears rang for medical help after coming across an elderly customer who had slipped on ice early one morning during last winter's freeze. He then stayed with the woman until she was in professional care.

He also raised the alarm after noticing uncollected newspapers and closed curtains at the home of another customer. Police who broke in discovered the man had fallen and broken a hip.

And Mr Mears' attention was drawn to a suspicious car in High Street when he arrived for another early-morning work stint. He memorised its number plate and it helped police make arrests for a break in at a nearby shop.

His boss at Starlings, Darren Veal, also went to the ceremony and said Mr Mears had been quite nervous at the start but a few glasses of wine had helped him relax.

Merit awards were presented first to the two other finalists, one of whom was still delivering papers aged 88 and the other was a young boy who had helped a woman trapped by her garage door.

'After they went up I thought: 'He's only gone and bloomin' won it!' The whole room stood up and clapped. It was a very prestigious award and I'm very happy for him,' said Mr Veal who texted the good news to work colleagues back in Holt straight away.

The awards, now in their eighth year, are organised by the National Federation of Retail Newsagents.