The xx have won the 2010 Mercury Music Prize.

Nominations for the award included Biffy Clyro, Dizzee Rascal, Foals, I Am Kloot, Laura Marling, Mumford And Sons, Paul Weller, Villagers and Wild Beasts.

The band were said to be ‘near speechless’ upon receiving their award, particularly as they only formed in 2005 and released their debut album in August 2009.

The band received their £20,000 prize which they are going to use to build their own studio, as Madley Croft explained;

We made this album (‘xx’) in a converted garage at our record label. We felt very lucky at the time to use it, but I think we’d love to make our own studio, somewhere where we can just experiment and let Jamie (Smith) produce.”

Singer Oliver Sim also explained that the band have had “the most incredible year” and they were not expecting this to happen to themselves.

In the past winners of the Mercury Prize include Franz Ferdinand, Elbow, Klaxons and Arctic Monkeys.