Customers were not banking on meeting unlikely TV star Howard Brown when they called into their local branch of the Halifax.

Mr Brown, 37, who shot to fame by singing in adverts for the bank, was on hand to greet people at the London Road branch in Brighton yesterday.

A marketing assistant for the company, Mr Brown has perfected his own versions of Sex Bomb and Something Stupid for our screens.

Filming the adverts has taken him all over the world, including to Namibia and Nepal.

He said: "The company held auditions for its staff and I went along just for fun.

"I really didn't expect this to happen and to be honest, I don't see myself as a celebrity.

"I sing the songs the way I hear them and dance them the way I feel them.

"But the reaction has been tremendous and people have been very supportive.

"I get recognised everywhere I go. One of the biggest questions I get asked is if I actually work for the company, which I do."

Mr Brown began his Halifax career three and a half years ago in Sheldon, near his Birmingham home.

Since then, his nationwide tour to promote savings and investments has taken him to London, Bradford, Coventry and Brighton.

Branch manager Alison Cheale said: "We've all been excited about having Howard here for the day and it's great that we've got him at a smaller branch.

"Everybody recognises him."