British alternative indie-pop quartet Alt-J were crowned the winners of the 2012 Barclaycard Mercury Prize at tonight's (November 1) ceremony in London.

The event took place at Camden's Roundhouse venue and the shocked band, who won the prize for their album 'An Awesome Wave', thanked their parents for not making them get real jobs along with "all of Team Alt-J".

Alt-J triumphed over a shortlist of 11 other albums, which included Plan B's fantastic cut 'iLL Manors', The Maccabees' 'Given To The Wild', Jessie Ware's 'Devotion', 'Is Your Love Big Enough' by Lianne La Havas, and Michael Kiwanuka's 'Home Again'.

The band's award-winning record charted at No.34 in the midweek update, having slipped down 7 places, although the final positions will be confirmed this coming Sunday (November 4).