A BBC Somerset radio presenter has been shortlisted for two national awards for his reporting of mental health.

Ben McGrail was selected from hundreds of entries for the Mind Media Awards 2015.

Mind is a mental health charity and the awards celebrate the best portrayals and reporting of mental health across broadcast, print and digital media.

Ben, who lives in Taunton with his girlfriend Jenna, has been shortlisted in the Radio category for his "Why is it so hard to talk about suicide?" programme back in May 2015, which he was entered for by the Somerset County Council Public Heath team.

He has also been shortlisted in the Journalist category.

He's been at BBC Somerset, where he presents a weekday show from 9am for just over four years.

Ben said: "I didn't expect to get nominated in two categories, but mental health is a big part of the programme and it is really exciting especially after working very closely with Mind in Taunton and West Somerset over the last year.

"Mental health is an issue close to my heart and I think everyone struggles with mental health at some point in their lives.

"It's something I cover quite a lot on the show, and when we started talking about it on my programme, people were keen to talk about mental health."

In one of the categories Ben has been shortlisted for, he faces competition from Radio 4 and Nick Clegg on LBC.

Ben added: "I'm not expecting to win but it would be amazing and it would be good because of the work we have done with Mind, so it would be good for them as well."

Paul Farmer, chief Executive of Mind, the mental health charity, added: “We’ve come a very long way from mental health stories of the past which focused on ‘mad’ ‘bad’ and ‘scary’. With the continued support, and passion, of people working in the media we can make sure that mental health problems, and associated issues, are portrayed sensitively and accurately – because it plays a vital role in reducing the stigma and discrimination experienced by people with mental health problems in the UK.”

The ceremony takes place on November 16 at The Troxy in London.