ATHLETE Paula Radcliffe was last night voted the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

The 28-year-old received the award in London at the end of a memorable year for her, having received a massive 619,577 votes. England football captain David Beckham finished runner-up with 113,539 votes, after defying injury to lead his team in the World Cup.

In third placed was record-breaking champion National Hunt jockey Tony McCoy, who received 87,972 votes.

The greatest names in sport gathered at BBC TV Centre for the annual ceremony, being held for the 49th time and hosted by Steve Ryder, Gary Lineker and Sue Barker,

After receiving her award, Paula said: "It's such a big honour just to look at this trophy and see all the other names on it."

Regarded for so long as the bridesmaid of British athletics because she had not won a major championship, Paula put that right in style this year. Having won the London Marathon in April, in a European record time of two hours 18 minutes and 56 seconds, she won her elusive first track gold in the 5,000 metres at the Commonwealth Games in July.

She then won another gold, in the 10,000 metres at the European Championships in Munich, and went on to win the Chicago marathon in 2:17.18, a world record.

She also recently successfully defended her world cross country title in Dublin.

Paula, who also became an MBE this year, has strong connections with the North-East.

Her success includes winning the Great North Run on Tyneside. Her victory in 2000 saw her set a record time of 67 minutes and seven seconds. She has also won the Great North Cross-Country title.

Other awards last night included Everton's prodigious footballer Wayne Rooney, who was named Young Sports Personality of the Year.

Leeds mother-of-three Jane Tomlinson received the Helen Rollason Award, for overcoming adversity. Despite suffering from terminal cancer, she took part in the Great North Run at the age of 38, having completed the London Marathon earlier in the year.

Coach of the Year was Arsenal football manager Arsene Wenger, and Team of the Year went to the European Ryder Cup golf team, which beat the US at The Belfry.

A lifetime achievement award went to former Manchester United and Northern Ireland footballer George Best.