DESPITE walking away from last night's Brit Awards empty handed, music legends lavished praise on Southampton's record breaking superstar Craig David. (27/2/01)

Craig, 19, had been nominated for six categories at the glittering gala awards, but was overlooked in favour of stars such as Robbie Williams and Coldplay - whose drummer Will Champion hails from the city. But the crowd and many of the onstage stars were on Craig's side.

Superstar Elton John told the audience at London's Earls Court: "If there is a better singer in England than Craig David then I am Margaret Thatcher."

Craig alluded to his misfortune as he performed charttopper Fill Me In by slipping in the line "six nominations and no Brit for CD".

Yesterday, Craig, who grew up on the city's Holyrood estate, called for a change in the Brits voting system.