Hollywood A-lister and Pirates of the Caribbean star Orlando Bloom has been voted Kent's cultural icon at a prestigious awards ceremony.

The actor - who grew up in Canterbury - beat Vera star Brenda Blethyn, singer songwriter Ellie Goulding and contemporary artist Tracey Emin to the title at the Culture Awards for East Kent held at Rutherford College at the University of Kent last night.

The night's other big winner was the Marcel Duchamp in Herne Bay Festival which picked up a hat-trick of gongs - the experience award, the best project involving the wider community award and the east Kent people's award sponsored by the KM Group.

The festival, which was put together by a team of volunteers, took place in August and celebrated 100 years since a visit by the French artist to Herne Bay.

Whitstable-based animation experts A+C Studios were the winners of the creative entrepreneur and best creative campaign categories.

Canterbury band Coco and the Butterfields were chosen for the one-to-watch award.

Ashford-based dance company Jasmin Vardimon took the artist award, Canterbury award and the destination east Kent award.

This year's cultural champion was Tim Edey of the Tim Edey Collective, the digital award winner was Robert Jarvis Singing Windows and the best project involving young people winners were Music for Change with Music In The Square.

This year's awards were organised by Canterbury for Culture and were sponsored by the KM Group, Canterbury College, Barretts, Deeson Creative, Canterbury Christ Church University, the University of the Creative Arts, the Abode hotel, Lenleys, Canterbury City Council and the University of Kent.