Sniffly star Alex Parks shrugged off her illness and stole the show at radio station Southern FM's awards event.

The flu-ridden Fame Academy winner belted out a version of Coldplay's chart-topping single Yellow in front of more than 200 guests.

After stepping off stage at the Brighton Hilton Metropole the spikey-haired sensation said she had not heard actress Gwyneth Paltrow, girlfriend of the band's frontman Chris Martin, was pregnant.

She said: "It's just one of my favourites - and people like hearing songs they know."

Accompanied by a pianist and wearing shabby-chic frayed jeans with a black blazer and trainers, the 19-year-old also rattled through her new single Maybe That's What It Takes.

Local heroes and top celebrities were toasted at the radio station's annual ceremony which raised almost £50,000 for the Help A Local Child charity.

The night was hosted by breakfast show presenters Danny Pike and Nicky Keig-Shevlin and Fame Academy runner-up Alistair Griffin also sang.

Actor Brian Capron, who played serial killer Richard Hillman in Coronation Street, was awarded Favourite Personality and spent the evening signing autographs.

The Hove-based star said: "It's great to come to local events like this. I've been in Brighton since 1976 and absolutely love it.

"My two daughters grew up here and now I have a son here, too, so it's a very special place."

Kimberley Bailey, 17, of Durrington, who has become a championship swimmer despite having multiple physical disabilities, won the Young Person award.

Student Phil Carey, 20, was named Local Hero of the Year for his work with young people in Hastings.

Blue were named as Favourite Artist, and Sarah Harding and Kimberley Walsh of Girls Aloud were there to pick up the award for Favourite Newcomer.

The pair, who hit the headlines last week after comparing one of Brighton's top hotels to Fawlty Towers, were particularly taken with the main course - a fish supper wrapped in newspaper.

Sarah said: "It's nice to have something normal. They usually serve smoked salmon and I don't like posh food."

Sporting heroes also took the spotlight, with basketball team the Brighton Bears picking up the Business to Community award. Sussex cricketing heroes won a special award to commemorate their county championship victory. Captain Chris Adams auctioned off a signed bat, contributing £1,000 to the final £48,500 raised.

Jo Ashton, marketing controller for Southern FM said: "The evening was brilliant, especially as we raised so much for Help a Local Child which will benefit less advantaged young people."