Robbie Williams said he was "genuinely chuffed" after being honoured as a pop idol at a music awards bash - and then handed a gong out to two of his own heroes.

The singer landed the prize at the annual Q Awards, where he was also on hand to give the Outstanding Contribution to Music prize to his pals the Pet Shop Boys.

Robbie joked that organisers created his prize simply to get him to show up, telling guests: "Of all the made-up awards to get a celebrity to an awards show."

However he added: "I'm genuinely chuffed. I'm 40 next year and I've been around for loads and loads of years, and people still deem me important enough to roll me out and get me here and give me an award, and for that I'm very, very grateful."

Robbie was described by Pet Shop Boys frontman Neil Tennant as "Freddie Mercury-esque but more down to earth".

Neil, who accepted his group's award with musical partner Chris Lowe, thanked "everyone who has ever dipped into and out of our careers, especially those who've stuck with us".

Other winners included Happy Mondays whose LP Bummed was named classic album, with singer Shaun Ryder telling bandmate Bez: "I'll take this home - you'll lose it."

Tim Burgess gave the "poet laureate" prize to "sweary revolutionary" John Cooper Clarke, while other stars including Tinie Tempah, Ronnie Wood and Sophie Ellis-Bextor handed out gongs at the ceremony at the Grosvenor Hotel in central London.

The show, hosted by pub landlord star Al Murray, saw Robbie named a Q Idol, Biffy Clyro pick up Best Album for Opposites and Ellie Goulding win Best Solo Artist.

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