Gizmo the cat's owners took him along while they queued overnight for a store's special promotion - and ended up selling him.

The ginger tom became the bargain of the day after he clawed his way to the front of the queue at the new 99p Stores, ready to lap up a special offer when the shop opened for the first time this morning.

His owners Margaret Backler, 18, and Paul, 21, and Tom Smith, 18, from Brighton, had taken him along as they queued all night to get their hands on one of the goods on offer, all on sale for 99p, at the shop in North Street, Brighton.

However, they decided to make a sale themselves as they waited - and sold their cat to a stranger they met in the queue.

They said they had been looking for a new home for Gizmo anyway because they were about to move from a ground-floor flat, where the cat could come and go as he pleased, to an upstairs flat.

Gizmo caught the eye of a woman they got talking to - so they sold him to her for £7.

The animal, Margaret, Paul and Tom were among a line of people who queued up all last night in time to see DVD players, TVs, videos and microwaves sold for 99p, after opening at 10am.

Others said there was a good atmosphere among those waiting.

Debbie Ticehurst, 38, from Hollingdean, Brighton, said: "There has been a real community feel. We all had a bit of a laugh."

The 99p Stores company has spent more than £400,000 on fitting out the shop. It is the same company which started the Whistlestop Food and Wine Chain in trains and stations.

One of the company directors Hussein Lalani said: "The crowd have been exceptionally well-behaved. "

Sofia Hobden-Ward, 27, from Whitehawk, started queueing at 5.15pm yesterday.

She said: "It got a bit cold but I wrapped up in those bin bags you can tie up and they worked very well."

Grace Skerrett, 70, waited in line for two hours. She said: "As long as I get a mop I'll be happy."