Coldplay Win Big At The Brits - Best British Album & Single

Rock band Kaiser Chiefs are leading the pack at this year's Brit Awards, winning three prizes including the coveted best British group prize.

The Leeds-based band also took best live act and best rock act at the London ceremony.

James Blunt won best pop act and best British male. Both acts were up for five prizes as the show began. Other winners include best British breakthrough act Arctic Monkeys, and KT Tunstall, who won best British female.

Coldplay won Best British Album for X&Y and Best British Single for 'Speed Of Sound'. Accepting the best single award, singer Chris Martin said: "It is hard for us sometimes because we are English and we do not like to admit we are great. So tonight, we would like to agree with you for giving us this award."

Chris Martin hinted on stage he may take a break, saying: "People are fed up with us and so are we." Accepting the best British band award, he added: "Thanks for having us, you won't see us for a long time."

You can listen to Coldplay's performance of Square One here [thanks radioactive_coldplayer].

More on Coldplay @ the Brit Awards here; you can view official photos at the Brits website.The winners and nominees from the 2006 Brit Awards, taking place at Earls Court in London:

Pop act: James Blunt

Also nominated: Katie Melua, Kelly Clarkson, Madonna, Westlife.

(Winner chosen by viewers of ITV1's CD:UK, readers of The Sun, and customers of O2 and Motorola)

British urban act: Lemar

Also nominated: Craig David, Dizzee Rascal, Kano, Lemar, Ms Dynamite.

(Winner chosen by MTV Base viewers)

International breakthrough act: Jack Johnson

Also nominated: Arcade Fire, Daniel Powter, John Legend, Pussycat Dolls.

International male solo artist: Kanye West

Also nominated: Beck, Bruce Springsteen, Jack Johnson, John Legend.

British rock act: Kaiser Chiefs

Also nominated: Franz Ferdinand, Hard-Fi, Kasabian, Oasis.

(Winner chosen by Kerrang! TV viewers)

British breakthrough act: Arctic Monkeys

Also nominated: James Blunt, Kaiser Chiefs, KT Tunstall, Magic Numbers.

(Winner chosen by BBC Radio 1 listeners)

British live act: Kaiser Chiefs

Also nominated: Oasis, KT Tunstall, Kaiser Chiefs, Coldplay, Franz Ferdinand

(Winner chosen by BBC Radio 2 listeners)

British male solo artist: James Blunt Also nominated: Anthony and the Johnsons, Ian Brown, Robbie Williams, Will Young.

British single: Coldplay - Speed of Sound

Also nominated:James Blunt - You're Beautiful, Shayne Ward - That's My Goal, Sugababes - Push The Button, Tony Christie - (Is This The Way To) Amarillo.

(Winner chosen by UK commercial radio listeners)

International group: Green Day

Also nominated: Arcade Fire, Black Eyed Peas, Green Day, U2, White Stripes.

British group: Kaiser Chiefs

Also nominated: Coldplay, Hard-Fi, Franz Ferdinand, Gorillaz

British female solo artist: KT Tunstall

Also nominated: Charlotte Church, Kate Bush, Katie Melua, KT Tunstall, Natasha Bedingfield.

International female solo artist: Madonna

Also nominated: Bjork, Kelly Clarkson, Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott.

International album: Green Day - American Idiot

Also nominated: Arcade Fire - Funeral, Kanye - Late Registration, Madonna - Confessions On A Dancefloor, U2 - How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.

British album: Coldplay - X&Y, Gorillaz - Demon Days, James Blunt - Back To Bedlam, Kaiser Chiefs - Employment, Kate Bush - Aerial.

Oustanding contribution to music: Paul Weller