Duffy sweeps BRIT pop awards, Coldplay out in cold

British singer Duffy walks onstage to accept the Brit for British Album at the Brit Awards at Earls Court in London February 18, 2009.[Agencies]

LONDON - Welsh singer Duffy swept the BRITs on Wednesday with three awards including the coveted best album prize for "Rockferry," while English rockers Coldplay were left in the cold with no wins from four nominations.

The prizes seal a remarkable debut for Duffy, a relative unknown just a year ago. Rockferry was Britain's top-selling album of 2008 and worldwide sales are close to five million.

The 24-year-old, who won a pop vocal album Grammy in the United States 10 days ago, also scooped BRITs for British female and British breakthrough act.

"I just want you to know that, for the record, I travelled this whole country, from Wales to London and back again, a thousand times playing my songs to old ladies," a tearful Duffy told thousands of fans at London's Earls Court after receiving her third prize.

"So thank you to the British public. I can't tell you what this means after five years."

Both Duffy and Coldplay, who performed their single "Viva La Vida" at the ceremony, were nominated for four awards.

After winning three Grammys including song of the year, Coldplay, one of the world's biggest bands, walked away from the BRITs empty-handed.

The show kicked off with Irish rockers U2's rendition of "Get On Your Boots," the first single from their upcoming album "No Line on the Horizon."

Among the highlights of the night was Take That's performance of "Greatest Day," with the group descending on a UFO-type platform into a screaming arena.