The 24-year-old, who also won a pop vocal album Grammy for 'Rockferry' in the United States 10 days ago, has been nominated in four categories at Britain's top music honours.

The prizes seal a remarkable year for Duffy, a relative unknown a year ago. Rockferry was Britain's top-selling album of 2008, with worldwide sales close to five million.

'I don't mean to be greedy,' said the singer, accepting her second award of the night.

English rockers Coldplay, who performed 'Viva La Vida' before thousands of fans and industry executives at London's Earls Court, are also up for four prizes.

The show kicked off with Irish rockers U2's rendition of 'Get On Your Boots", the first single from their upcoming album 'No Line on the Horizon'.

Recorded in Fez, Morocco, the band's Dublin studio as well as in London and New York, the eagerly awaited record is due for release in Britain on March 2 and the following day in the United States.

In other early awards, U.S. performer Katy Perry won best international female act, US band Kings of Leon scooped the international group category and the British male solo artist prize went to Paul Weller.

Organisers have highlighted the global impact of British music in 2008, underlined by a flurry of Grammys, the industry's most coveted honours.

In the wake of those awards, Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger hailed 'a great period for home-grown talent", telling the Sun newspaper: 'What's so refreshing is the different styles that have been recognised. Coldplay, Duffy, Adele and Radiohead make up an eclectic bunch, proving there's a lot of fresh British talent out there.'

But English artist Robert Plant, former lead singer of Led Zeppelin who picked up five Grammys for his acclaimed collaboration with bluegrass singer Alison Krauss, was snubbed by the BRITs, receiving no nominations.

The Pet Shop Boys will receive an award for outstanding contribution to music, and are due to wind up the show by performing some of their biggest hits. -- REUTERS