A CWMBRAN-born blogger and his website has received two nominations for the UK Blog Awards in the Best UK Blog and Arts and Culture categories.

Luke Walkley, originally from Hollybush, is the chief editor of Movie Marker, a film review website which he started around four and a half years ago.

The blogger has won awards previously for his film reviews, but his shortlisting for the ceremony in April is his first UK-wide nominations.

“I think people like the reviews we do because they are honest – and we don’t sugar coat our reviews,” said the 24-year-old.

“If a film is bad, that how we call it and that approach has helped our Twitter followers swell to over 24,500.”

Mr Walkley twins his passion of film reviewing with working for the NHS as an occupational therapist, using his evenings to pass judgement on movies.

“It is tough to find the time to fit the films in after the 40-hour weeks, but it’s something that I really enjoy doing and has been since I was young,” he said.

The UK Blog Awards are chosen for by the public, and the shortlisted entrants are in turn judged by a panel from chiefs at Odeon Cinemas and Debenhams – the event sponsors.

Movie Marker has steadily grown in popularity since its creation in 2012, and comments from the review website have featured on DVDs and film posters, including 'Set Fire to the Stars' - a film about Dylan Thomas with Elijah Wood.

The film reviewer added: “It’s great to see that the public have voted for the website, which has now been shortlisted for the two awards.

“In the Best UK Blog shortlist, we’re down to the final six from around 2,000 blogs and Arts and Culture category, there are 10 finalists from some 600 sites.”

The ceremony will be taking in London on Friday, April 29 but with the 2016 Oscars on the horizon, the film reviewer believes one film will scoop the golden statues in Hollywood.

“I’m predicting big things for The Revenant – I think that Leonardo DiCaprio will hopefully break his duck and win the award,” he said.

To read the reviews of the award nominee, visit moviemarker.co.uk or for more information on the award ceremony, go to blogawardsuk.co.uk.