Ellison 'thrilled' at bottom win

Ellison and Thomas were voted Rear of the Year in an online poll Enlarge Image

Actress Jennifer Ellison and Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas have been honoured for having Britain's best celebrity bottoms.

The pair have won the annual Rear Of The Year Award - awarded to male and female stars judged to have the shapeliest behinds.

Ellison, 25, who starred in Brookside, said she was "thrilled" with the award.

Thomas plays labourer Jason Grimshaw on the ITV soap. He said: "It brings a new meaning to the phrase 'builders bum'."

This year's awards are in support of the Jeans for Genes charity, which helps to fund research and care for children with genetic disorders.

Organiser Tony Edwards said: "The annual Rear of the Year awards have become something of a national institution.

"We believe it is important that this essentially fun event should now continue into the future with strong links to charity awareness."

Previous recipients of the awards, now in their 26th year, include singers Charlotte Church and Will Young, TV presenter Denise van Outen, comedian Frank Skinner, footballer Ian Wright, and TV weathergirl Sian Lloyd.