England's Stokes wins sports personality of year

The all-rounder was man of the match as England won the World Cup for the first time with a dramatic super over victory against New Zealand at Lord's. Stokes, 28, also hit an unbeaten 135 in the one-wicket third Ashes Test triumph against Australia at Headingley.

Manchester City and England footballer Raheem Sterling, world heptathlon champion Katarina JohnsonThompson and Welsh rugby union legend Alun Wyn Jones were also shortlisted for the main award. Durham's Stokes was presented with his award by the Princess Royal and former

Manchester United and Scotland footballer Denis Law.

He becomes the first cricketer since Andrew Flintoff in 2005 to win the prize. New Zealand-born Stokes is missing the first warm-up match of England's Test tour of South Africa, which starts, in order to attend the show in Aberdeen.

"First of all, I think congratulations to all the nominees. What you've managed to achieve as individuals and do for your sport is simply sensational, so well done to you too. "There's so many people you feel you have to thank when you're up here. It's an individual award, but I play a team sport and one of the great things about that is you get to share special moments with those team-mates, coaches and without that effort you put in, I wouldn't be up here receiving this award so thank you so much.

"Two years ago was a tough time for me in my life and I've had so many people help me through that. My fantastic manager and friend Neil Fairbrother, you're more than an agent, you're an incredible man. I don't know how you've put up with Andrew Flintoff and me, you and [Fairbrother's wife] Audrey, you're incredible people.

"My parents, they live on the other side of the world, they don't get to share moments like this, the World Cup and be there with me, but the time you dedicated to me growing up, the selflessness to get me to training camps.