CHORLEY lad James Walsh crowned a rollercoaster ride of a year by taking one of the top gongs at this week's Q Awards.

James, frontman of indie four-piece Starsailor picked up Best New Act at the awards, held in London on Monday.

They beat off competition from Turin Brakes, Strokes, Goldfrapp, Tom McRae and Dido to clinch the award.

James said: "It is amazing, a really great feeling, overwhelming and flattering because it was never in the masterplan or anything.

"We're just four lads who started playing music in a garage in Warrington. It would just be a really great way to end a rollercoaster of a year."

At the start of the year, Starsailor were tipped as THE band to watch over the year. After picking up a BRAT award early on, they released the Fever EP -- raw demo tracks -- and got their second top 20 entry when they released Good Souls in the summer.

Their first top 10 entry was with Alcoholic, while their debut album Love is Here was only kept off the top spot by Kylie Minogue.

The group are currently on tour, and will perform with The Charlatans at the MEN Arena next month.