Shoppers snapped up Sir Paul McCartney's cast-offs after he and wife Heather turned up at a charity shop with bags of old clothes.

The former Beatle called in unannounced at the Carla Lane Animal Charity shop in Portslade.

And once a sign went up in the window alerting shoppers, fans flocked in to snap up the couple's gear, including skirts, trousers and jumpers.

Within a few hours almost everything had gone and more than £300 had been raised for the charity founded by sitcom writer Carla Lane, author of TV comedy hits including Bread, The Liver Birds and Butterflies.

Shop manager Linda Barnard said: "We were lucky to get the donations from the McCartneys. All of the clothes were in very good condition and every single thing sold.

"They didn't stay very long but Paul came in, shook hands and said he was going to write a letter to Carla, who he has known for years.

"There was some really nice stuff, including Heather's boots, which sold for £15.

"And anyway, it didn't matter what they brought in because it was the name that sold it all.

"The people who bought them were over the moon and it drew a lot of attention to the shop."

Carla Lane, who has been friends with Sir Paul since his first wife Linda was alive, said: "It was a nice surprise for everybody.

"We don't expect them to bring in designer clothes and ball gowns because that is not what people wear all the time. Anyway Paul wouldn't do that because he doesn't flaunt his wealth.

"Linda used to bring in ordinary clothes because she was not trying to make a statement about how rich they were."

She said Sir Paul had since sent her £5,000 for her animal sanctuary, which paid for electrical work to keep the animals warm this winter.

She said: "He doesn't know we are struggling - he only meant it as a small gesture."

Paul is famous for his ordinary spending habits, such as flying economy, and his daughter Stella once publicly declared him "stingy".