Jazz legend Herbie Flowers has toured some of the most famous venues in the world but over the weekend he had a much more down-to-earth job to do.

The musician was in Rottingdean to officially open a £40,000 toilet block.

Herbie and his friend, saxophonist Ron Aspery, supported the campaign for new toilets by forming the Toilet Charity Band.

Herbie managed to keep smiling at a rain-drenched opening ceremony at Rottingdean recreation ground in spite of Ron's death last week.

He said: "The late great Ron Aspery helped with this campaign. I know he would have wanted us to carry on today and enjoy the official opening.

"I love Rottingdean. It is just such a wonderful place. I was more than happy to do what I could to help."

Herbie, from Ditchling, serenaded the crowd on his tuba with a few bars from We Wish You A Merry Christmas, In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning and Singin' In The Rain.

The opening marked the end of a four-year campaign to install the public toilets off Falmer Road.

The number of people coming to the recreation ground had increased in recent years.

With the nearest public toilets almost a mile away, people tended to use the surrounding bushes instead.

Rottingdean Windmill WI helped launched a campaign for new toilets and, with the support of Brighton Kemp Town MP Des Turner, persuaded Brighton and Hove City Council to change its policy of building public toilets only in town centre areas.

Rottingdean Parish Council donated £5,000 and The Argus Appeal offered £750.