A Harpenden-based blogger beat nine finalists at the UK's most prestigious digital award ceremony last Friday to claim a national award.

Technology reporter at BBC Click and author Kate Russell, 46, scooped the individual award in the Digital and Technology category at the UK Blog Awards for her blog Kate Russell.

Ms Russell set up the blog to talk about the world of technology in a language that anyone can understand.

She said: "It was a real honour to win the award and fantastic to meet all the other bloggers.

"These kinds of events are really important so we can network and offer support and encouragement to each other.

"It's important for diversity in the media that we have a strong voice and our best chance of that is by standing together as a community rather than seeing each other as competition.

"I met the other bloggers shortlisted in my category and we are now firm friends and vowed to support each other and help publicise each other's work.

"I also have to thank my readers who voted for me onto the short list to begin with. I was thrilled on the night to be able to take them with me on stage to collect the award by live streaming the whole thing on Periscope.

"I think Jonathan Weinberg, the judge who handed over the award, was a little surprised that over 200 people were watching live from the palm of my hand."