Beyonce voted best international female at Brits

Beyonce beat Christina Aguilera, Missy Elliott, Alicia Keys (pictured performing live at the ceremony) and Kylie Minogue to win Best International Female tonight.

She thanked British fans and told them: “I think of this as my second home.”

Earlier, Beyonce put in the most sizzling stage performance of the night.

The star looked sensational in a white Roberto Cavalli dress and £250,000 worth of diamonds.

Introduced by hip hop act Outkast, she appeared on stage in a puff of smoke to sing her hit Crazy In Love.

And she gasped in mock horror when a cheeky male dancer flashed his Union Jack boxer shorts at her.

Dido won Best British Single for White Flag, a love song said to be about her ex-boyfriend Bob Page.

The singer missed tonight’s event after cancelling all her engagements to concentrate on writing and rehearsing for her forthcoming tour.

In a videoed acceptance speech, she thanked fans and said: “This is quite a personal song for me, it’s not an easy song to write or to sing and that’s what makes this even more amazing.”

Dido had been meant to perform at the ceremony and instead her place was taken by young jazz sensation Jamie Cullum and Katie Melua. The pair duetted on their own version of old Cure hit Love Cats.

US Rapper 50 Cent made a spoof video of the time he was detained by customs officials at Heathrow before coming on stage to perform In Da Club.

The award for best British Urban Act went to former Fame Academy star Lemar.

The White Stripes were named Best International Group.

Daniel Bedingfield won Best British Male Solo Artist, beating Will Young.

The singer could not pick up his award because he is in New Zealand recovering from a car accident.

The Darkness won Best British Rock Act and Hawkins said: "Apparently they created this category especially for us and we are honoured and privileged.

“We should thank our collective parents for bestowing on us the gift of rock.”

Busted won best pop act and Basement Jaxx won best British dance act.