A tearful Lily Allen has picked up three Ivor Novello songwriting awards, including songwriter of the year.

The 25-year-old was choked with emotion as her hit single The Fear scooped prizes for best song musically and lyrically, and most performed work.

"This song is so much about feeling so lost," she said, "It has made me feel quite found all of a sudden."

Paul Weller won a lifetime achievement award and Scottish singer Paolo Nutini took home best album.

Nutini, who won with album Sunny Side Up, told the BBC: "It's two records in, I've got a lot to go yet."

Duran Duran singer Simon Le Bon, who presented the award, said: "Paolo's album is uplifting and very pure, and it makes you smile."

Sir Tim Rice, best known for his work with Andrew Lloyd Webber on Evita and Joseph, was given the Academy Fellowship.

Before the ceremony, Lily Allen told reporters she regarded her songs as "nursery rhymes".

She has repeatedly said she has no plans to make a new record for "a minimum of four or five years" - although she was recently confirmed as the support act for Muse when they play Wembley Stadium in September.

Asked if her Ivors success would make her rethink her decision to take a break, she said: "I don't know about that."