Coldplay received their seventh Brit Award last night, scooping the gong for Best British Group.

But despite beating off stiff competition from the Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, Chase And Status and Elbow for the accolade, the band said they only won because they're "still together".

Speaking after the ceremony, frontman Chris Martin said: "Most other bands have split up, we only win because we are still together.

"Blur have gone, Pulp have gone, Oasis have gone. Radiohead aren’t interested. They would win it every year if they wanted to. Take That are on holiday. So we’ll take it if they’re not around.”

The group, who released their fifth studio album - Mylo Xyloto - in October last year, opened last night's Brit Awards at the 02 Arena with a rousing rendition of new single Charlie Brown, complete with fireworks.

When asked what they have planned for the future, Martin joked: “We’d like to land a big modelling campaign. As a group, we’d like to do our own perfume.”

“We’ve got a few restaurant ideas, and we’re thinking of opening a theme park. A JLS theme park. We’re thinking of doing that in 2016, so you heard it here first.”

Adele, Rihanna and all the other stars of the Brit Awards 2012 on the red carpet:

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• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Adele (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Rihanna (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Jessie J (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Kylie Minogue (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Caroline Flack (Pic: WENN)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Holly Willoughby (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Little Mix (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Alexandra Burke (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Fearne Cotton (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Pixie Lott (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Keith Lemon (Pic: WENN)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Emili Sande (Pic: WENN)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Florence Welch (Pic: WENN)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Mark Wright (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Lana Del Rey (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Olly Murs (Pic: WENN)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Ray Winstone and his wife Elaine (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Laura Whitmore (Pic: WENN)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Ed Sheeran (Pic: WENN)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Jack Whitehall (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  James Corden (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Dizzee Rascall (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Jo Whiley (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Holly Willoughby (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Lydia Bright (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Louie Spence (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Plan B (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Adam Deacon (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Sara Cox (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Lydia Bright (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Christina Perri (Pic: WENN)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Pixie Lott (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Emma Bunton (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Dave Berry and Lisa Snowdon (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Lisa Snowdon (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  JLS (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Tinie Tempah (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Katie Melua (Pic: WENN)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Adele (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Jo Whiley (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Mr Hudson (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Blur (Pic: WENN)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Kylie Minogue (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Noel Gallagher (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Professor Green (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Labrynth (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Marcus Collins (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Nicole Scherzinger (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  One Direction (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Dermot O'Leary (Pic: PA)

• Brit Awards 2012 Red Carpet

  Example (Pic: PA)