BBC 6 Music DJ Jarvis Cocker used last night's Sony Radio Academy Awards ceremony to urge listeners to make a final push to help save the threatened digital station.

Cocker, who won the "rising star" award for his show on 6 Music, mounted a passionate defence of the station which he said would leave a void that would not be filled by commercial radio.

"This award is vindication of the 6 Music way of working, giving presenters the freedom to share the music they love with their listeners," said Cocker.

"If 6 Music goes the commercial sector is not going to take up the slack. Advertisers do not want to reach alternative types who wear second-hand clothes and grow their own potatoes."

Cocker revealed he had personally spoken to the BBC Trust to plead the case for 6 Music to survive and urged listeners to make their feelings known in the remaining days of the public consultation.

"It will never have millions of listeners but the listeners it does have love the station with a passion and would be devastated if it closed."

The station is due to shut at the end of 2011 under controversial plans put forward by director general Mark Thompson, along with sister digital station, the Asian Network.

Cocker's was one of two awards won by 6 Music last night, with Adam Buxton and Joe Cornish picking up the comedy prize.