Rob da Bank's Bestival wins best major festival award

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Page last updated at 11:21 GMT, Tuesday, 4 December 2012

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The Isle of Wight event had a fancy dress parade this year with a wildlife theme

Bestival has won the top prize at this year's Festival Awards.

The annual event, held on the Isle of Wight and organised by Radio 1's Rob da Bank, was voted best major festival.

On Twitter, the DJ said: "A 1000 thanks to all who voted for @bestival to win Major UK festi. we did it! sadly i was lying in bed ill but yes!"

Festival No. 6, launched this year in Portmeirion, won three prizes including best new festival, headline performance of the year and promoter of the year.

'Turbulent times'

Bestival won the best major festival award in 2010 with Glastonbury taking the title last year.

Despite being nominated for five awards, Radio 1's Hackney Weekend didn't win anything.

The Festival Awards are about celebrating and uniting the UK festival industry which, in these turbulent times, is more vital than ever

Steve Jenner Festival Awards co-founder

Steve Jenner, Festival Awards co-founder, said: "It is pleasing to see so many first-time category winners breaking through this year and indicative of the dynamic movements in the market at this time.

"Much more than winning gongs, though, the Festival Awards are about celebrating and uniting the UK festival industry which, in these turbulent times, is more vital than ever."

Other winners at the London ceremony included Download (Line-up), Latitude (Family) and Green Man (Grass roots).

Cambridge's Lodestar festival won the honour of having the best toilets.

Django Django's Default was voted anthem of the summer and Jake Bugg was the breakthrough act.

Live Nation's chief operating officer, John Probyn, also picked up a lifetime achievement award.