WEST Devon-based folk star Seth Lakeman this week celebrated a fantastic start to the New Year — by scooping two top BBC music awards. The 29-year-old former Tavistock College student has not only been named singer of the year in the Radio 2 Folk Awards 2007 — his latest CD Freedom Fields was named best album. Seth took a break from his Canadian tour to fly back to London for the glittering award ceremony on Monday night, a day which coincided with the release of his third single from Freedom Fields, King and Country. Seth accepted his best singer award from Dartmoor-based comedy star Jennifer Saunders. Before flying back to Canada on Tuesday, he told the Times: 'I'm just thrilled, this has been such a sensational, roller-coaster year for me. 'It's great to get this recognition from the folk world. There's been a lot of talk about me crossing over from folk, but it's great to be recognised by the musicians, promoters, journalists and festival organisers of the folk world. 'To get the big two awards this year is just fantastic.' Another single from the Freedom Fields CD, White Hare, was nominated for the best traditional track award — Seth had a fourth nomination too, for best live act. Seth Lakeman came to the attention of the international music world after being nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in 2005 for his second album, Kitty Jay. Since then, life has changed dramatically for the singer songwriter and he has completed a series of high profile TV appearances, festival performances and international tours. But in spite of becoming a household name and a famous face, Seth remains close to his Dartmoor roots — he continues to play locally when his busy schedule allows, whether holding music workshops at Tavistock College or jamming at pubs around the area.