Scores of women could be walking around wearing the cast-offs from an Oscar winning A-list celebrity.

Hollywood star and Kemp Town resident Cate Blanchett has donated some of her old clothes to the Marie Curie Cancer Care shop in St George's Road, Brighton.

The actress, who is preparing to move back to her native Australia, walked into the shop and handed over her clothes before staff could see who she was.

It was only afterwards they realised who they were dealing with.

Shop manager Nicky Way said the shop had many celebrity customers including former EastEnder Patsy Palmer, Kevin Rowland from Dexy's Midnight Runners and actress Dora Bryan.

She said: "Usually they donate anonymously like Cate Blanchett did and we don't advertise it but word sometimes gets out. Some people don't mind us using their name, like Dora Bryan. She said she was happy for us to use it if it meant we could make more money.

"It is great that Cate and other famous people support the shop as do many other ordinary people."

Shop workers who served Ms Blanchett said the clothes she donated were not designer gowns worn for the star-studded premieres she attends but good quality every day attire.

Most of the clothes were sold the same day and they were not marked up for their celebrity value.

Other charity shops in the city have also benefited from the generosity of celebrities.

Sir Paul McCartney and wife Heather wandered into the Carla Lane Animal Charity shop in Portslade carrying bags of cast-offs.

The shop put a notice in the window telling customers about their good fortune and every item was snapped up in hours.

Norman Cook - DJ Fatboy Slim - is a supporter of Oxfam and took a pile of his old records into their shop in Western Road, Brighton.

Among their customers is actor Mark Williams from the Fast Show.