No fear for Lily Allen as she scoops three Ivor Novello song awards

SINGER Lily Allen broke down in tears as she received a trio of prizes at the Ivor Novello Awards yesterday on the cusp of her apparent retirement.

Allen's number-one hit song The Fear scooped both the most performed work award and the prize for best song musically and lyrically.

The 25-year-old star rounded off the ceremony with a hat-trick when she and writing partner Greg Kurstin were named as the songwriters of the year.

Scot Paolo Nutini also scooped an award for best album.

Nutini said: "It was an honour to be nominated in the first place."

Wiping away tears as she picked up an award (right) for The Fear, Allen said: "Thank you, I'm trying so hard to hold it together.

"This song is so much about feeling so lost. It has made me feel quite found all of a sudden."

But asked backstage if her Novello success would make her reconsider plans to "retire", Allen shook her head and said: "I don't know about that."

Guitar legend Johnny Marr received the inspiration prize for his work with The Smiths and, more recently, Modest Mouse and The Cribs.

Marr said of his career: "I sincerely hope that there will be a lot more twists and turns because that's what I like to do.

"I believe that rock music and pop music is an art form."

The event, at London's Grosvenor House Hotel, draws many of the biggest movers and shakers in the music industry to see writers and performers honoured.