Adele named BRITs 2012 British Female Solo Artist

Adele has won the British Female Solo Artist award at the 2012 BRIT Awards.

The British soul sensation, who stole the 2011 show with her tear-jerking performance of 'Someone Like You' became one of the biggest selling artists in the world last year, spawning hit after hit from her second album, 21.

The star took top honours over fellow female nominees Florence & The Machine, Jessie J, Kate Bush and Laura Marling and also returned to the BRITs stage to perform for a second year in a row.

Adele was the first winner of the Critics' Choice award in 2008 and was later nominated in 2009.