Winner: Welsh singer Duffy at the Mojo awards in London last night

Welsh singer Duffy, who has been dubbed 'the new Dusty Springfield, has won song of the year for her hit Mercy at the Mojo magazine awards.

Nominated in three categories, more than any other artist, Duffy joined fellow Honours List winners Led Zeppelin, Paul Weller, the Sex Pistols, Genesis, Neil Diamond and The Specials.

Duffy was beaten as Best Breakthrough Act by Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner's side project The Last Shadow Puppets.

The Welsh singer-songwriter also lost out on the Best Album Award to Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds for their offering Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!

Arriving at the the ceremony, Duffy, wearing a white top, jeans and a snake-print bag, said: 'It's all fun. I'll be better once I've had a drink.'

Talking about her music, she said it made her feel 'alive', continuing: 'I'm over-ambitious sometimes.'

Asked about her love life, Duffy said: 'It would be rude for me to tell.'

The event was hosted by Mojo magazine's editor-in-chief Phil Alexander at The Brewery in east London.

Mr Alexander said of Mercy: 'It's a timeless song which is exactly why Mojo readers voted for it.

'It could really have come from any period in time over the last 50 years.

'At the start of the year she was one of the artists in our Eight For 08 feature but we didn't expect her to sell a million albums in the UK in six months!"

The guest-list at the event included Dave Grohl, Kate Nash, Al Murray, David Arnold, Phill Jupitus, Georgie Fame and Graham Coxon.

The ceremony, dedicated to celebrating modern music, consisted of key awards which were voted for by readers of the monthly music bible Mojo magazine and users of its website.

Spanning more than three decades and hailed as one of Britain's finest heavy metal bands, Motorhead were honoured with the Mojo Hero award.

The Sex Pistols were presented with the Mojo Icon Award.

Winners and grinners: Alex Turner and Miles Kane of The Last Shadow Puppets

Having re-united for a blistering show at the O2 Arena at the end of 2007 Led Zeppelin took home the Best Live Act Award.

The Classic Songwriter Award went to Diamond, presented by fellow musician Richard Hawley.

Two-tone ska band the Specials were selected for the Mojo Hall Of Fame, joining previous winners such as Sir Elton John and The Doors.

Genesis were awarded the Mojo Lifetime Achievement Award for an outstanding career that positions them as one of the top 30 highest-selling recording artists of all time with about 150 million albums sold worldwide.

Dad on duty: Phil Collins was accompanied by his daughter Lily

The Mojo Special Award went to Grammy award-winning soprano singer Judy Collins.

Another Grammy award winner, New Orleans-based blues and soul singer Irma Thomas, flew into the UK to collect the Mojo Legend Award.

Alternative rock band My Bloody Valentine won the Mojo Classic Album Award for their critically acclaimed work Loveless.

John Fogerty received the Mojo Inspiration Award for his contribution to rock music and 'Modfather' Weller received the Outstanding Contribution To Music Award.

Music men: Paul Weller, Johnny Rotten and Neil Diamond

Meanwhile ska and roots reggae master Toots Hibbert took home the Mojo Roots Award which was presented by Jazzie B.

Other winners included folk legend John Martyn, who scooped the Mojo Les Paul Award and the Fall's frontman Mark E Smith who received the Mojo Maverick Award.

The Mojo Vision Award went to Julien Temple for his documentary The Future Is Unwritten about the life of Clash frontman Joe Strummer.

Juno Original Soundtrack won the Mojo Compilation Of The Year Award and the Mojo Catalogue Release Of The Year went to Pillows & Prayers, Cherry Red Records 1981 - 1984.