A vaudeville strongwoman, a speed painter and a circus performer obsessed with Freddie Mercury will appear as part of an international busking competition.

They are among ten of the world's most talented buskers selected to appear on Saturday, May 24.

Brighton's first International Busking Festival will see acts perform in New Road, Jubilee Street and Pavilion Gardens as part of the Festival Fringe.

There will also be live bands, food stalls and various "characters" in attendance.

Artistic programmer Mikey Martins, himself an established street performer, has picked a selection of the best performers he has seen at busking festivals in Dublin, New Zealand and Canada.

He said they were far removed from the traditional stereotype of a busker as "someone with a dog on a string playing a tin whistle".

He said: "What they do is small-scale street theatre.

"They all started off as buskers but have gone on to be renowned acts performing all over the world."

He said he hoped residents would turn out in force to enjoy the festival, which he described as a way of reclaiming the streets.

Mr Martins said: "The whole road is going to come alive like an old-fashioned street party.

"We want to make this about the public getting involved.

The more support the better it will be."

He said busking was the "most honest" form of theatre because the audience only paid if they enjoyed the show.

Visitors will be able to vote for their favourite performer via The Argus website.

The winner will be awarded an Argus Angel statuette and will be invited to return to next year's festival as a reigning champion.

Among the acts lined up are 28-year-old Australian strongwoman Betty Brawn, who can bend solid metal and tear a 500-page novel in half with her bare hands.

Jon Hicks started off as a pavement artist and now specialises in swiftly creating huge paintings in a show choreographed to music.

Jon, who was a guest on the Graham Norton Show on Channel 4, has been described as a funkier version of Rolf Harris.

Another performer, called Mario Queen of the Circus, pays tribute to the music of the band Queen. Audience members are invited to participate and the whole performance ends with a grand rock 'n' roll finale.

Acts will be flown over and their basic living expenses paid by the Fringe but they will rely on the public to give generously.

Although this year's competition is limited to one day, Mr Martins hopes it will eventually expand to two or even three days.

There will be more treats for street theatre fans on May 24, with an installation commissioned by the Brighton Festival, called The Burst Pipe Dream, happening in Jubilee Square at regular intervals throughout the day.