The Vamps have been named as the winners of MTV Brand New 2014.
The indie pop band feel "very lucky" after two months of campaigning for votes and beating off stiff competition from BRITs Critics’ Choice Award winner Sam Smith to the coveted title.
Drummer Tristan Evans told MTV: "We’re very lucky and we feel very humbled and honoured to win such an awesome competition we’ve been growing up with."
Among other nominees this year for MTV Brand New were – Ella Eyre, Elyar Fox, BANKS, Royal Blood, Joel Compass, Kwabs, George Ezra and unsigned winner Marie Naffah.
The Vamps – which also features Bradley Simpson, Connor Ball and James McVey – follow in the footsteps of Ebony Day, Conor Maynard and Justin Bieber who are previous MTV Brand New champions.
Bradley added: "A big thank you to all our fans who voted for us, you’re all amazing. It’s a bit weird winning it when we’ve all grown up and seen the artists who have won it so thank you very much."
The ‘Wild Heart’ hitmakers’ increasingly large fan base – nicknamed the vampettes – helped their debut single ‘Can We Dance’ reach number two in the UK Official Singles Chart last year, however they have previously brushed off a rivalry with One Direction.
They said: "We don’t look at any other bands as competition. There is a massive music industry [and] there is space for loads of different bands, so it’s not a competition."
The Vamps named as MTV Brand New winners
