Indie star Clint's top award

Black Country indie legend Clint Mansell has beat off tough competition from major Hollywood composers to scoop two prestigious awards for his soundtrack work.

Mr Mansell was overwhelmed when he won Best Original Soundtrack for his score on motion picture The Fountain at the World Soundtrack Awards, held in Ghent, Belgium.

He had barely taken his seat when his name was called again after the same film won the prized Public Choice Award, which is voted for by fans and fellow musicians.

Mr Mansell, who shot to fame with legendary Stourbridge indie band Pop Will Eat Itself, was presented with the awards by three-time Oscar-winning composer Maurice Jarre. The score has proved a major success for Mr Mansell after it was nominated for a Golden Globe award earlier this year.

To win the Best Soundtrack category, Mr Mansell's work beat off tough competition from Hollywood blockbusters, such as Shrek the Third and Little Miss Sunshine.

Mr Mansell attended King Edward VI College, in Stourbridge, and formed Pop Will Eat Itself in the early-1980s. The band enjoyed success in the late '80s and early '90s and was one of a string of bands from the Stourbridge area to find success. Other bands included The Wonderstuff and Ned's Atomic Dustbin.

The band eventually split in 1996 and he moved into writing film soundtracks.

He worked on a series of films, such as Pi in 1998 and Requiem for a Dream in 2000.

After finding success, he eventually moved to Los Angeles, where he currently lives.

Mr Mansell continues to visit Stourbridge regularly and recently took part in a fundraising concert to aid Kingswinford youngster Oscar Fradgley. Speaking after the ceremony on his myspace page, Mr Mansell said: "I couldn't believe I had won. I would like to thank everyone who voted for me in the public choice category."

Mr Mansell's next project is believed to be a romantic comedy called Definitely Maybe.