The family of a journalist from Ealing have set up a bursary award for young people aspiring to break into the profession.

Claire Prosser died in 2014 after heart surgery just years after her son, Tom Clabburn, died in his sleep in October 2007 from an undiagnosed heart condition .

The 54-year-old, who set up the Tom Clabburn Memorial Fund in 2007 with husband Paul Clabburn, was the first director of the BBC's Journalism Training Scheme.

Now Mr Clabburn, daughter Ellen Clabburn and the Journalism Diversity Fund have set up the Claire Prosser bursary award to be managed by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ).

The award is a £5,000 contribution to the successful applicant's bursary and will also include a work experience opportunity with the BBC, where the acclaimed journalist worked for 28 years.

Mr Clabburn, a former BBC news presenter who lived with his wife in Elers Road, said: "We are delighted to be able to work with the NCTJ and support a bursary in Claire's name.

"Claire was able to put into action her belief in equality of opportunity via her leadership of the BBC's Journalism Trainee Scheme.

"She believed strongly that journalism, a profession she loved and spent her life in, should be open to anyone from any background.

"It is that spirit we are seeking to keep alive. This bursary is part of her legacy."

'She made a difference to the careers of young people'

Claire's role was to bring diverse talent into the newsroom and she was recognised in 2015 with the European Diversity Awards' Lifetime Achievement accolade.

She began her career at the Surrey Herald in 1978, before spells at BBC Ceefax, BBC Radio 4 and on to BBC Radio 5 Live as an output editor before taking on her role in directing the Journalism Training Scheme.

NCTJ chief executive, Joanne Butcher said: "The NCTJ and Journalism Diversity Fund are proud to support and administer the Claire Prosser bursary award.

"Claire made a real difference to the careers of so many young people and we hope to continue her legacy with this award."

To be eligible for the bursary, applicants must have secured a place on an NCTJ-accredited course.

Mr Clabburn changed the name of the the Tom Clabburn Memorial Fund to the Tom Clabburn and Claire Prosser Memorial Fund following his wife's death.

In January earlier this year, the first of six cardiac screening sessions were launched after the fund had raised £150,000 for charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).

Around 600 people are expected to be screened this year, covered by the fund, so that people can be screened without paying.

Mr Clabburn has been funding screening sessions in London, particularly Ealing, since 2008.

According to CRY, every week 12 apparently fit and health young people, under the age of 30, lose their lives to sudden cardiac arrest and 80% of these have shown no previous signs of heart defect.