A former choirboy who became a cabaret drag queen has scooped one of Britain's top music awards.

Antony Hegarty, 34, lead singer of New York band Antony and the Johnsons, grew up in Chichester and was a choirboy at St Richard's Catholic Primary School in Cawley Road.

On Wednesday night his band won the Mercury Music Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in the British music industry.

Former classmate Tomasina Sulman said: "I remember him as a tall, tanned, chunky blond boy who was always cheerful, quite a contrast to the photo of him I have just seen on the Antony and the Johnsons web site. I didn't even recognise him."

Antony's family moved to California when he was 12 but he never forgot his British musical roots and was influenced by Boy George and Culture Club.

As lead singer of Antony and the Johnsons, he worked with Boy George, who sang on their second album I Am A Bird Now, currently number 14 in the UK Indie charts.

He has also recorded with Lou Reed and Rufus Wainwright.

Antony and the Johnsons beat Coldplay, The Magic Numbers and Kaiser Chiefs to the top spot in the Mercury Music Prize and scooped a £20,000 prize.

The award is only given to British acts but Mr Hegarty qualified because he was born here.

Speaking after his win he said: "It's interesting, you would call me an American.

"I just feel really pleased to be a part of this.

"It's a really prestigious award and I feel honoured to have won it. I've no idea what it signifies, I'm just taking it one step at a time."

He said he would spend the money on a smart new image.

"Maybe I should buy some clothes. I know I look a bit rotten."

He said of the other acts on the shortlist: "It's kind of like a crazy contest between an orange and a spaceship and a potted plant and a spoon - which one do you like better?"

At the ceremony, held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, British Sri Lankan rapper MIA walked out within minutes of Mr Hegarty being named the winner.

When the nominations were announced Nick Hodgeson, drummer with Kaiser Chiefs, said: "He's an American, really. It's a good album but it's daft he's got in on a technicality."