Elbow win Mercury Prize

English band Elbow are celebrating today after being announced winners of this year's Nationwide Mercury Prize.

Their album, 'The Seldom Seen Kid', beat 11 others to win the title at a ceremony in London last night.

The prize champions UK music and is open to all genres of music. It attracted around 240 entries this year, more than ever before, said organisers.

The band's fourth disc darts between sparse electronica, flamenco-influenced beats and Led Zeppelin-inspired rock.

Radiohead, Estelle, Last Shadow Puppets, Adele, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, British Sea Power, Rachel Unthank and the Winterset, Laura Marling, Portico Quartet, Burial and Neon Neon, the alter ego of Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys were also up for the award.

Elbow frontman Guy Garvey said, as the band collected their award: "I know we're supposed to be cool but this is quite literally the best thing that has ever happened to us."

He dedicated the award to the band's friend Brian Clancy, who died a few years ago and who inspired a number of the tracks on the album.

Guy told reporters: "I would look at it (the award) in the same way as certain Bedouin tribes, I think, like a bowl of milk. Something that does not occur very often but tastes all the sweeter."

Asked what they would do with the money Garvey said "spend it" before saying it could go to charity.

Of their friend Clancy he said: "We dedicated the album to him and we dedicate the prize to him as well."