Ilkley-based pop band Gomez have scooped one of the music industry's most prestigious awards.

The band won the Mercury Music Prize for best album of the year last night, beating established rivals including The Verve, Robbie Williams, Catatonia.

The five-piece, who are originally from Southport but now live together in a shared house in Ilkley, seemed as astonished to win as they were to be nominated for their first album Bring It On, which was recorded as a demo on a simple four-track home-recording machine.

Keyboard player Ian Ball said: "It's pretty ridiculous that this album was recorded in my dad's garage and we had people like the police saying 'Keep the noise down'.

"It's ridiculous that we are here."

Their music, described as "swamp blues", won the acclaim of the music business, whose insider bets pushed the odds of them winning the £25,000 prize from 9-1 to 2-1.

Roni Size, last year's winner of the Mercury Music Prize, presented this year's award.

Jury chairman, journalist Simon Frith, revealed this year's choice from the 12-strong shortlist had been a toss-up between three albums.

"But in the end we made a very difficult and fraught decision," he said.

The ceremony was shown on BBC2, broadcast on Radio 1, and highlights will be shown on BBC2 on Saturday evening.

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