Franz Ferdinand arriving at the ceremony on Tuesday

The Glasgow band fended off competition from The Streets, Joss Stone and The Zutons to take the prestigious award.

Frontman Alex Kapranos said his group's victory marked the end of a "despicable era" of manufactured pop music.

Paul Rees, editor of Q Magazine, said the win was part of "the most welcome sea-change since Britpop".

He said: "Good bands seem to be coming back - interesting music appears to be coming around.

"In recent years the music scene has been very much pop-dominated, but now albums from Franz Ferdinand and Keane have stuck in the charts and have been consistent sellers."

Mr Rees added that the Mercury Prize definitely has an effect on the music-buying public.

"The Zutons album got nominated and more than doubled its sales in a week," he said.

'Real deal'

BBC Radio Scotland presenter Vic Galloway described the band's win as great for Scotland and great for new music.

He said: "They did it the old fashioned way - they formed, played at parties, did tours of every small venue in the UK, got themselves a record contract. They are the real deal."

The presenter, who gave Franz Ferdinand their first session on his Monday night radio show Air, said he believed a younger generation were moving towards rock music.

DJ Vic Galloway (right) shares a joke with Alex Kapronos at the awards

"I'm seeing more kids forming bands, organising club nights with bands, and they want to hear music like Franz Ferdinand or The Libertines, not manufactured pop," he said.

NME journalist Dan Martin said the win means "alternative music is right back to where it belongs".

He said: "The great thing we are seeing is music from quality bands getting much more exposure.

"Bands like Franz Ferdinand are selling records, winning awards, appearing on Top of the Pops and being introduced to a younger audience."

Mr Martin added Franz Ferdinand had experienced an "incredible rise" over past year

The Mercury prize includes an award of �20,000 which the band say may be used to set up a centre in Glasgow to help young people get started in the music industry.