BBC News Online big European winners

Some of the BBC News Online team and their awards

BBC News Online has won seven European Online Journalism awards, making it by far the most successful site at the annual event in London.

The competition attracted a record 875 entries from 24 European countries, double the number for 2001. In all, 17 prizes were handed out at a ceremony on Thursday evening.

The series of European awards for BBC News Online comes just a fortnight after the site received the Webby, the so-called Oscar of the internet, for best news site at a ceremony in San Francisco.

BBC News Online's David Whitehouse: "Journalist of the Year"

BBC News Online's Science Editor, Dr David Whitehouse, won the coveted prize as European Internet Journalist of the Year and he also received the science reporting award for his story about ice reservoirs being discovered on Mars.

Other awards came for best feature story and best general news presentation and in the areas of business and economics, technology, music and entertainment.

Elmundo.es of Spain won three awards and the prize for Best Overall Journalism Service was given to Hold The Front Page, Northcliffe Electronic Publishing's online news service for UK regional journalists.

Mike Smartt, editor-in-chief of BBC News Interactive, said winning seven awards, all in different categories, reflected the depth and breadth of BBC journalism on the web.

"But it is not just a matter of high quality journalism. Without our talented and committed teams of designers, developers, technical and support staff, we would not be winning awards like this," he said.

The BBC News Online awards were:

Best Feature Story: Right Track, Wrong Track

Best General News Presentation: Bristol Babies Heart Scandal

Internet News Journalist of the Year: Dr. David Whitehouse

Science: Ice Reservoirs Found On Mars

Business and Economics: The Launch Of Euro Cash

Technology: Welcome To The Era Of Drive-By Hacking

Music and Entertainment: George Harrison Dies

A full list of awards can be found at www.net-media.co.uk/awards/winners.asp