Most recently Lee Karen Stow, who lives near Beverley, has been using photography to highlight the daily struggles of life as a woman in Freetown, Sierra Leone, where average life expectancy is just 42. In the past she has reported for leading publications on the brick kiln donkeys of Cairo and the children who work them and on Malawi's 800,000 children orphaned by HIV/Aids, malaria and poverty.

Lee was away on assignment and unable to pick up the Rotary International Humanitarian Reporting Award 2008 at yesterday's ceremony in Blackpool. But she said: "I feel honoured and overwhelmed by this unexpected award, I really do.

"This award is especially significant because it is given by the Rotary, which I know exists in so many countries and initiates so many humanitarian programmes that are geared to help those who are hungry and in desperate need."

Lee said she still had much more to do especially in Sierra Leone where the escalating price of rice was causing untold misery, adding: "Yes, the war is over, but the story is not over and I would appreciate any help that can be given, to help me tell it."

Presenting the award Allan O Jagger, president of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland, said "This award recognises outstanding humanitarian-based news reporting and the contribution made by journalists in helping the general public better understand humanitarian, health, education and cross-cultural issues.

"Lee is a very worthy winner as her work has highlighted many humanitarian global issues over many years."