Patrick Neate has won the Whitbread Prize for best novel with his second book, 'Twelve Bar Blues'.
Despite strong competition from former Booker prize winner and favourite Ian McEwan who was nominated for his novel 'Atonement', Neate took the award. Other nominees included Andrew Miller and Helen Dunmore.
Neate's book is based on the year that he spent teaching in Zimbabwe.
Other Whitbread prize winners were Sid Smith in the first novel category for 'Something Like A House', Selima Hill for her book of poetry entitled 'Bunny' and, in the biography section, Diana Souhami for 'Selkirk's Island'.
Each of the winners receives £5,000 in prize money and is in competition for the Whitbread Book of the Year.
