Ralph McTell, The Chieftans and Fairport Convention have each won lifetime achievement awards at BBC Radio 2's Folk Awards in London.

Guests at the event included former Catatonia singer Cerys Matthews, who appeared with Eliza Carthy to sing a duet.

Cerys Matthews gave a performance

Carthy's father Martin was named folk singer of the year, succeeding his wife Norma Waterson, who took the prize last year.

Other guests at the awards, held at the Marriott Hotel in Grosvenor Square, included Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell.

McTell won the lifetime achievement prize for his songwriting. His track Streets of London has been covered more than 200 times, by acts from Aretha Franklin to the Anti-Nowhere League.

Traditional tunes

Fairport Convention, who are celebrating 35 years together, collected their prize from Jethro Tull's frontman Ian Anderson. Their 1969 Liege and Lief was voted best folk album ever by Radio 2 listeners.

Radio 2 controller James Moir handed over The Chieftans' prize to Paddy Moloney's band, who interpret traditional tunes in a semi-classical way.

Mr Moir said: "It is thrilling to see truly great artists being recognised for their outstanding contribution to the world of folk and both exciting and reassuring to see so many new, talented performers emerging and rightly taking their place in the spotlight.

"I am delighted we can give folk music a national platform on BBC Radio 2."

Winners in full:

Folk singer of the year: Martin Carthy
Horizon award: Cara Dillon
Best album: The Bramble Briar - Martin Simpson
Best group: Cherish The Ladies
Best live act: Rory McLeod
Best original song: Who Will Sing Me Lullabies? by Kate Rusby
Best traditional track: Black Is The Colour, performed by Cara Dillon
Instrumentalist of the year: Martin Simpson Lifetime achievement award for songwriting: Ralph McTell
Lifetime achievement award: Fairport Convention
Lifetime achievement award: The Chieftans