Passers-by could have been forgiven for thinking they had walked in to a set for a television show when a line of celebrities gathered at a hotel.

However, they were really the spitting images of famous stars who came to pose for a day at Brighton's Grand Hotel.

They are part of a group of people from Sussex who spend their time as look-a-like celebrities and work through an agency which books them for event organisers who could never expect to book the real stars of stage and screen.

The spitting images of Del Boy and Uncle Albert, characters in the hit BBC1 comedy Only Fools and Horses, seemed to live and breathe their parts.

"My family say I never stop being Del Boy," said David Byrne, of Eastbourne, as he dashed off to harass a passing van driver. " 'ave you got anything in the back of the van worth selling mate? Eh? I'll take it off your 'ands if you like, eh? Lovely jubbely."

He spends much of his time walking round dressed as Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter, because he is a dead ringer for actor David Jason, who plays the role in the series.

As the group gathered in Brighton to promote their work, Uncle Albert's spitting image Ray James, also of Eastbourne, could be heard telling whoever would listen: "When I was in wo-war . . ." just like his alter-ego in the show.

Mr James looks like Buster Merryfield, who plays Uncle Albert, a retired naval serviceman who never ceases to bore anyone who will listen to his tales of war at sea.

Mr James, Mr Byrne and a host of others from Sussex are members of Bradford-based agency A-list Lookalikes and Entertainments Ltd run by Danielle Constantine who bears a more than passing resemblance to Sex and the City's Sarah Jessica Parker.

All lookalikes get paid for their work which can include appearances anywhere from corporate events, cruise ships and on documentaries to weddings, bar mitzvahs and student parties.

The majority do it part-time and some work as actors and actresses.

Ms Constantine said: "It is cheaper than hiring the real thing and they can be more fun."

Anne Robinson, alias Courtney King, 39, of Hove, looked on disapprovingly as she sweltered in her trademark black tunic in the shade of the hotel foyer as the group waited for late arrival Peggy Mitchell.

An actress for 15 years, Ms king, could not be more different to the Weakest Link presenter. She sings on the cabaret circuit and is currently promoting her self-titled CD.

She said: "I do lookalikes as a sideline really. I look nothing like Anne Robinson until I put all the kit on so I never get bothered in the street."

On the other hand David Stonestreet, of Seven Dials, Brighton, has trouble convincing people he is not Ricky Gervais's buffoon-like boss David Brent from the hit television comedy The Office.

He said: "Some people get quite annoyed because they think I'm trying to deny being famous.

"Sometimes I get stopped in the street every ten minutes by people who want to talk about The Office. Two guys in a bar even had a £100 bet over whether I was Ricky Gervais.

"I shaved my beard off at one point because it was driving me round the bend."

Sussex's answer to Davina McCall, Clare Sloane, 27, of Polegate, said: "People have been telling me for years that I look like Davina but it was the haircut that did it. I've only just joined the agency but I've been acting since I was six."

Chris Lawrence, another of the Sussex team, entertained passers-by as she posed as her look-a-like Barbara Windsor, flashing a smile as charming as Peggy, her character in the EastEnders soap.

She giggled as she tottered over the Brighton beach pebbles in her gold heeled sandals before collapsing into a deckchair with a good-natured sigh to match the Eastenders mum to a tee, and said: "No, no, Barbara Windsor's got my laugh, darlin'."

As the group posed together Anne Robinson's double said: "I don't do friendly," as Del Boy tried to grab her arm.

He shouted: "Where's me Kiss Me Quick 'at and me toffee apple?" before bellowing "Rodders!" and grabbing an unsuspecting Rodney-like onlooker who found himself ensconced between Del and Uncle Albert for a photograph.

George Clooney is often seen at events in Sussex, in the guise of Gary Tate from Eastbourne who revealed he spent most of his time in double - double glazing that is, when he is not standing in as the Hollywood star.

He said: "I originally won a Sun competition as a Clooney lookalike six years ago when he was in ER - my career is as long as his!"

With their range of professions there was one thing all the lookalikes agreed upon - only Royalty and Beckham doubles could make a full-time living out of it.

And to prove their point, both Sussex Beckhams, alias Camilla Shadbolt of Lewes, and Andy Hamer, of Eastbourne, had to pull out of the photo shoot due to work commitments.

Dead ringers for the celebrity couple, they are heavily in demand for a string of events and spend their working life posing as Victoria and David Beckham.

To contact any of the A-listers call Danielle on 01274 618309; email: info@alistlookalikes.co.uk or look on the website www.alistlookalikes.co.uk