British artists steal show at Grammy Awards

British musical talent stole the show at this year's Grammy Awards with old and young alike taking home an armful of coveted gongs.

The night's top winners were former Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant and bluegrass star Alison Krauss, whose collaboration saw them win five Grammys including that of Record of the Year and Album of the Year.

Elsewhere it was a good evening for Coldplay who won three awards including Song of the Year and 20-year-old Adele who picked up Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

Plant said he was "bewildered" as he accepted the last of the ceremony's awards.

He added: "In the old days we would have called this selling out, but I think it is a good way to spend a Sunday."

The pair picked up the Album of the Year title for the platinum selling Raising Sand.

Also in their haul was Record of the Year, a title they won for Please Read the Letter.

Plant told the star-studded Los Angeles audience that it was an old song he had penned with Jimmy Page that had been given the Nashville touch. "It feels pretty good," he added.

In winning Record of the Year Plant and Krauss topped a short-list that also consisted of Coldplay, Leona Lewis, M.I.A and Adele.

Coldplay had better success in the Song of the Year category, winning for Viva La Vida. Picking up the award dressed in Sgt Pepper-style outfits, the band apologised to Sir Paul McCartney - who was in the crowd - for copying the look.

More success came in the shape of a Grammy for Best Rock Album. Frontman Chris Martin said: "We have never had so many Grammys in our life. I feel so grateful to be here, I'm going to tear up. Thank you so much."

The band were also responsible for one of the more memorable collaborations of the evening with Martin teaming up with hip hop superstar Jay-Z for a performance of Lost.

Jay-Z was also one of the rappers accompanying a heavily pregnant M.I.A, as the British songwriter and producer took to the stage on her due date dressed in a tight-fitting polka-dot and sheer outfit.

Sir Paul McCartney added to the night of collaborations, performing Beatles' hit I Saw Her Standing There, with the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl on drums.

But Sir Paul missed out on the title of Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, with the honour going to John Mayer.

There was, however, success in the female version of the category, with 20-year-old Adele winning the gong for her performance on the song Chasing Pavements.

She was later announced as Best New Artist - an honour that was last year bestowed on Amy Winehouse.

Picking up the award, Adele dedicated it to her mum and to London.

She added: "Thank you so much, I'm going to cry."

Earlier, during an untelevised part of the award ceremony, Welsh songstress Duffy won in the category of Best Pop Vocal Album.

Radiohead, who produced one of the best performances of the night when they took to the stage accompanied by a marching band, picked up a brace of awards for their album In Rainbows.

The band took home Grammys for Best Alternative Music Album and Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package.

With speeches kept short because of the number of awards being presented, there was little scope for winners' comments to overshadow the event itself.

But the evening was not without controversy. Before the ceremony began it emerged that R&B singer Chris Brown, who was nominated for two awards, was being investigated by police over an alleged assault on an unidentified woman.

Neither Brown nor his girlfriend, singer Rihanna - both of whom where scheduled to perform - attended the event.

Jail records show that Brown turned himself in to police and was briefly held before posting 50,000 US dollar (£34,000) bail yesterday evening.