BBC Radio One star Sara Cox has been named Britain's top DJ at a prestigious awards ceremony.

The 26-year-old was voted Best DJ at the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party, presented by Bolton celebrity Vernon Kaye.

She received a huge cheer from more than 11,000 fans at London Arena when she picked up the award. Newly-wed Sara took over the Breakfast Show from her best pal Zoe Ball, but critics initially said the show had become too brash.

She was carpeted for a series of gaffes including criticism of the Queen Mother -- a mistake which generated 32 complaints.

Broadcasting legend Terry Wogan once criticised the former Canon Slade and Smithills School pupil as being "in-yer-face" and "in doubtful taste".

Her show, however, has increased in popularity and now attracts 7.1 million listeners.

Some of the biggest names in pop, including Kylie Minogue, S Club 7, Mis-Teeq, Steps and Hear'Say, performed at the Smash Hits event.

This year the ceremony was shown live on Channel Four for the first time, having previously been on BBC1.

It followed the first ever Top of the Pops awards, which were held in Manchester last weekend.

A friend of Sara said: "She is certainly chuffed to bits by the award because at first so many had written her off."