Never before seen pictures of Elvis Presley are to be published in a new magazine compiled by a Brighton fan.

Lee Dawson, from Queen's Park Road, and fellow fan Mark Shone were given unprecedented access to Presley family archives after befriending Elvis' cousin, Donna Presley Early.

In one picture the then unknown singer is smiling and eager to please and dressed smartly in a black suit and red tie as he jokes backstage.

In the next picture, taken 15 years on in 1970, it's Elvis tanned and showing the first signs of the "cheeseburger" look which became the tragic trademark of his later life.

The duo, lifelong followers of the King, have formed friendships with many of Elvis Presley's friends and movie co-stars and have had good luck messages from celebrity fans such as Britney Spears, Shania Twain and Peter Noone.

The first edition of the Exclusive Elvis Express will feature interviews with his friends and dozens more unseen photographs.

Lee said: "We wrote to members of his family and told them what they were doing. His cousin wrote back to us and, perhaps because we didn't ask, said she'd be happy to support us.

"It's amazing. Some of the stuff she's given us has never been released from the family archives before."

In a personal letter to the pair, Donna writes: "The fans are an extension of our family.

"My sincere thank you to all of your readers there who are diligently working to keep the memory of Elvis alive. I cannot tell you how much that means to me, nor can I express what that would mean to Elvis."

Subscriptions cost £12.50 which pays for six magazines a year. Send cheques to: The Exclusive Elvis Express Fan Club, 208 Queens Park Road, Brighton, Sussex, BN2 2ZB.