THE case of the South Lakes Safari Zoo scandal has been thrown back into the spotlight after The Mail’s reporting of the issue was honoured with a regional award.

At the O2 Media Awards North West 2017 - held in Manchester last night - the newspaper was awarded the trophy for Most Memorable (Print) story for the zoo deaths investigation.

The exposé of animal deaths at South Lakes Safari Park, which went global, was heralded as a shining example of excellent local journalism.

This summer, The Mail exclusively revealed for the first time how almost 500 animals - including tigers, lion cubs and giraffes - died at South Lakes Safari Zoo in less than four years.

The shocking log, which provides a distressing catalogue of injuries and illnesses endured by a wide range of species at the site between December 2013 and September last year, was branded the worst seen in 60 years by national campaigning charity the Captive Animal Protection Society.

The Mail's associate editor, Emma Preston, said: “It was a privilege to see the efforts of The Mail’s hard-working reporters recognised.

“This type of high-quality, meaningful investigative work is what local journalism should always be about, and we all know and have been inspired by how much time and effort went into that piece.”

The article was written by Caroline Barber, who took away two trophies from the ceremony.

The CN Group investigations reporter also won the prestigious Reporter of the Year gong for her work at The Mail, triumphing from a field of 50-plus of the region's most talented journalists.

CN group editor, James Higgins, said: “It was a fantastic achievement and much deserved. Massive well done to Caroline.”

Overall, the CN team left the Etihad Stadium with four awards yesterday evening.

Elsewhere in CN Group, The Mail’s sister title The Cumberland News was once again crowned Weekly Newspaper of the Year. Carlisle Living was named Magazine of the Year.

The Mail was also highly commended in the Best Daily Newspaper and Best Team (Print) categories.