R&B sensation Ms Dynamite also emerged from the Manchester ceremony with another award to her name, adding to a clutch the garage star has already won this year.

The event was hosted by former Boyzone singer Ronan Keating, who has himself forged a successful solo career since the band split.

Chris Martin fronts Coldplay

Young was voted top newcomer of the year and he also collected a top single award for his million-selling number one hit Evergreen.

He fought off competition from Liberty X, Shakira, Holly Valance and Ms Dynamite for the newcomer prize.

Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates was left empty-handed, just a week after winning four awards at the rival Smash Hits Poll Winners' Party.

Hall of fame

Mercury Music Prize winner Ms Dynamite walked away with the top R&B artist award.

Other winners on the night included boy band Blue, who were voted top pop act by the readers of Top of the Pops magazine and visitors to the show's website.

Blue took to the stage to perform with Sir Elton John on his classic hit Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word, which they have all recorded together as a single.

Sir Elton was inducted into the Top of the Pops Hall of Fame, for his influence on the music scene. He joins its first inductee, Sir Paul McCartney.

Australian pop star Kylie Minogue made a triumphant return to the awards, winning the top tour award for the second year running for her Fever shows.

Floor-filler

Oasis have sustained their appeal after more than eight years in the business, taking the top rock award.

Coldplay were honoured with the best album award for their second long player, A Rush of Blood to the Head.

The TOTP awards, now in their second year, were voted for entirely by the public and presented in front of a 10,000 strong crowd at Manchester Evening News Arena.

Dutch outfit Ian Van Dahl - who are comprised of producers Christophe Chantzis and Erik Vanspauwen - were voted the best dance act of the year for such floor-fillers as Castles in the Sky and Will I.

The awards are being broadcast on BBC One on Saturday at 1740BST.