JUSTIN Hawkins and The Darkness scooped a top Ivor Novello award for songwriting.

The star of Britain's hottest rock band raised a toast to "songwriters everywhere" at the glitzy event.

Justin learned his craft at Huddersfield Technical College, where he studied music technology from 1995 to 1997.

The Songwriter Of The Year accolade tops their meteoric rise to stardom - and will silence critics who think of The Darkness as a joke band.

Justin joked: "It's a great award, it's the heaviest, I think it might be lead."

He told how it was the biggest award a songwriter could get. "We have always wanted something like this but didn't expect to be in this position now.

"Now we've got here we're not going to let it go. This is wonderful," said the singer.

The stars, including Lindley actress Zoe Lucker - a household name thanks to her role as Tanya Turner in Footballers' Wives - smiled as they arrived for the ceremony at London's Grosvenor House hotel.

Other winners at the 49th Ivors for British songwriters, and composers included young jazz singer Amy Winehouse, Dido and Pop Idol Will Young.

Jamelia took home an award for most performed work, for Superstar.