Bond girl Catherine McQueen hit Brighton beach today to urge sun worshippers to "fake it" rather than risk skin cancer.

Top model McQueen, 24, who stars opposite 007 Pierce Brosnan as a Russian socialite in the forthcoming Bond film Die Another Day, was promoting the latest Cancer Research UK campaign.

She was joined on the beach by the youngest person in the UK to be diagnosed with melanoma, a cancer of the skin.

Jaime Smith, now 24, beat the disease 12 years ago because she sought early treatment.

McQueen, who was handing out free sunblock to bathers on the beach, said: "My message to people is fake it. There are so many great products available now there is no need to lie out in the sun, damaging your skin.."

Scot McQueen, who has a ten-minute cameo role in the Bond movie due out in November, added: "I am happy to lend my support to this Cancer Research UK campaign."

Ms Smith, of Croydon, south London, was diagnosed with skin cancer at 12. She had the mole removed and now has six-monthly checks.

She said: "I was very lucky because I went to the doctor very early and although the mole was malignant it was removed. But it can be a very different story.

"People also need to realise that brown skin is not beautiful skin. You can look great without having a tan, and if people really do want a tan then I agree with Catherine - fake it."