Andy Murray named Sports Personality of the Year

Wimbledon champion Andy Murray thanked his family, friends and fans after collecting the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award tonight. Tennis legend Martina Navratilova presented the award to Murray who spoke via video-link from Miami:

Wimbledon champion Andy Murray was tonight named BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2013.

The 26-year-old, who ended Britain's 77-year wait for a men's singles champion at Wimbledon this year, was presented with the famous trophy by former tennis star Martina Navratilova after topping the public vote.

The Scot, who was overwhelming favourite to win the prize, beat British and Irish Lions rugby union player Leigh Halfpenny who finished second and horse-racing jockey AP McCoy in third place.

Read: Andy Murray's historic Wimbledon win

Read: From Dunblane to Wimbledon: Murray's career in pictures

Driving champion Sebastian Vettel has won Overseas Sports Personality of the Year at the BBC's Sports Personality award show tonight, after winning four successive Formula 1 World Championship this year, with four races to go.

The Red Bull driver, 26, won the final race in Brazil to equal a record of nine consecutive F1 victories set by Alberto Ascari between 1952-53.

He also matched Michael Schumacher's record of 13 wins in a single season.

The British and Irish Lions have won Team Of The Year at the BBC Sports Personality award show tonight.

The British & Irish Lions secured their first Test series win in Australia for 16 years earlier this summer.

With the series poised at 1-1, his side crushed the Wallabies in the final match as they racked up 41 points in Sydney to secure victory in style.

Hillsborough justice campaigner Anne Williams, who died in April, has been awarded the The Helen Rollason Award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony.

Ms Williams fought for a new inquest into her son Kevin's death in the 1989 football tragedy.

The award - named after TV presenter Helen Rollason, who died aged 43 in 1999 after fighting cancer - is given for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity.

Wimbledon champion Andy Murray said that his historic win was "hard to come to terms with". Speaking from Miami for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award he added: "It's been tough.

"I've been trying to achieve that for a number of years now. In the couple of weeks and months afterwards, I found it hard to come to terms with but I've started to get used to it more. It's great to finally get over that hurdle as there was a bit of pressure for me to do it."

Wimbledon champion Andy Murray was unable to attend the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award show as he is currently in Miami ahead of his return from injury on Boxing Day. His mother Judy Murray spoke on stage on his behalf.

"It has not been easy for him since Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski retired and having to shoulder that expectation and burden of becoming the first British man to win Wimbledon in so many years", she said.

"I know how hard he's worked for many years and it was always his dream to win Wimbledon from a young age. To see him do it in July was quite extraordinary."

Hillsborough justice campaigner Anne Williams who died in April is to be honoured at tonight's BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony.

Anne Williams fought to overturn an inquest verdict of accidental death against her 15-year-old son Kevin, who was one of 96 Liverpool fans who died in April 1989 during the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.

The Helen Rollason award, given for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity, will be accepted by Anne's family.

Read: Mourners line the streets for campaigner Anne Williams