FANTASTIC! That's what Craig David's producer, Mark Hill, said when the Daily Echo broke the news to him of the Southampton superstar's Mobo Award win.

Singing sensation David scooped the best UK act award at the ceremony, which honours music of black origin.

Hill, one half of former Southampton-based UK garage duo Artful Dodger, was asleep in New York yesterday morning when the Daily Echo rang to break the news.

"I'm really pleased for him. He's just going from strength to strength," said Hill, currently working on a new album with David, due out next March. "Craig has a great future ahead of him. He's a brilliant songwriter and I think he's going to be with us for a long time to come."