Chart-topping songwriter Emeli Sande was a double winner at the Ivor Novello Awards today.

Her single Next To Me was named best song musically and lyrically, and the track also carried off the prize for most performed work.

Dance music star Calvin Harris, said to be dating fellow pop act Rita Ora, was named songwriter of the year.

Harris, whose hit singles include the number ones I'm Not Alone and Sweet Nothings, recently set a new record after he became the first artist to have eight top 10 hits from one album, all drawn from his release 18 Months.

Former Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher was also among the big name winners as he was rewarded for his outstanding song collection.

Since quitting the band he has established an acclaimed solo career releasing an album, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, in 2011.

The awards, now in their 58th year, are much-prized by the music industry as they are chosen by songwriters and composers.

Sande has experienced a hugely successful year, performing at the Olympic ceremonies and topping the charts with her debut album Our Version Of Events.

Last month, it set a new record for the longest unbroken top 10 run for a debut album, surpassing the 62-week span of The Beatles' Please Please Me.

Mercury Prize-winners Alt-J took the award for best album with An Awesome Wave at ceremony, staged at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

One of the most cherished awards, best contemporary song, went to Pelican by The Maccabees, who were also Mercury nominees last year.

Marc Almond, who began his career with Soft Cell and went on to have a string of hits on his own, was given the inspiration award.

His hits have included Tainted Love and Bedsitter with Soft Cell, Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart with Gene Pitney and solo singles such as Jacky and The Days Of Pearly Spencer.

Former Moody Blues star Justin Hayward was given the outstanding achievement prize, while US songwriter and performer Randy Newman - who has lately been more noted for his film soundtracks to movies such as Toy Story - was given the international award.

The list of winners is as follows:

Best Contemporary Song: Pelican - The Maccabees

Most Performed Work: Next to Me - Emeli Sande

Best TV Soundtrack: Lucian Freud: Painted Life - John Harle

Inspiration Award: Marc Almond

Album Award: An Awesome Wave - Alt-J

Classical Music Award: Errollyn Wallen

Award for Outstanding Achievement: Justin Hayward

Best Original Film Score: Anna Karenina - Dario Marianelli

Best Song Musically and Lyrically: Next to Me - Emeli Sande

International Achievement: Gavin Rossdale

Songwriter of the Year: Calvin Harris

Outstanding Song Collection: Noel Gallagher

Special International Award: Randy Newman

Sande was unable to attend the event after heading to the United States to appear in the final of American Idol.

Gallagher was given a standing ovation as he accepted his award and thanked "everyone who has ever played on one of my songs".

And dedicating the award award to his wife Sarah, he described a recent conversation they had in which he said he wanted to turn the garage of their new home into a "creative space" to write songs.

"And she said to me 'I've never seen you writing songs'."

Holding the trophy he said: "If any more proof were needed."

He accepted the award from Kinks star Ray Davies, who joked: "I don't know why I'm here. I haven't done anything to help this man's career at all."

Harris had guests laughing as he began his acceptance speech by telling them: "Like my lyrics, I'm going to keep it brief and repetitive."

As a dance music producer and DJ, he said he did not feel as though he belonged in a room of songwriters and composers.

"To be honest, I can't believe I was even let in the door of this whole ceremony. It feels like I shouldn't be here, let alone holding this thing which is easily the greatest achievement of my entire life."

Almond said one of the greatest accolades a music act could have was to know that they had inspired other artists.

He paid tribute to everyone who had advised him over the years, adding: "I don't always take that advice but I'm standing here today so something's gone right somewhere."

Guest presenters included Coldplay's Chris Martin who handed the international achievement award to Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale, joking how much he used to despise him for his looks and success.