They were dancing in the moonlight on a tropical island after the news Toploader guitarist Dan Hipgrave is to marry TV presenter Gail Porter.

Dan's delighted family, based in Eastbourne, is currently living on the South Atlantic island of St Helena.

Dan's father Royce, a former Sussex Police superintendent, is now Chief of Police on St Helena and neighbouring Ascension Island and Tristan Da Cunha.

Mr Hipgrave, 49, says the family is delighted at the news.

He said: "We were lucky to be able to spend Christmas with Daniel and Gail while we were home in Sussex on leave in December."

Gail was a big hit when the family spent an evening at the Hurst Arms in Willingdon Road, Eastbourne.

Mr Hipgrave said: "Gail is a very happy, bubbly, intelligent person who is easy to get along with. She was accepted as one of the family.

"She and Daniel are extremely happy together and their news came as no surprise to us as we have had a few hints.

"As yet no date has been fixed for the wedding, but I'm sure they will want a very quiet and private ceremony, which we will all endeavour to ensure.We would like to take this opportunity to send our best wishes to them both, we wish we could be there to share this happy time with them, and send them all of our love."

The couple announced the engagement at the Brit awards ceremony after exchanging rings on Sunday.

Dan said: "Gail's lovely. She's the best girl in the world. When we first met we got on really well. We had a laugh and it was just meant to be. We were soul mates just waiting to happen.

"She's had a hard time during the last couple of weeks. The papers have been saying nasty things. They've been going on about me and her and it's really starting to annoy me.

"Hopefully they'll get bored and move on to someone else. "

Dan met Gail when the band played on TFI Friday a year ago. She assked him out but he declined as he was already seeing someone. But the pair kept in touch and met again on Top Of The Pops. He said: "We started talking and that was it, romance blossomed. It all took off from there.

Dan moved from Eastbourne to London three months ago to live with Gail after she asked him to move in.

He said: "When you meet Gail you realise she is just the same as anyone else. She's lovely and normal, otherwise I wouldn't be with her because that's the way I am. Everyone is happy that I'm happy and believe me, I couldn't be happier."

The Eastbourne band, best known for its single Dancing in the Moonlight, was nominated for Best British Group and Best British Newcomers at the Brit awards on Monday night.

The band's rise to fame has delighted Mr Hipgrave and Dan's mother Denise, 47.

Mr Hipgrave said: "At the age of 15 Daniel said he was going to be a rock star now he is.

"When we left the UK to come to St Helena in May, 1999, the band was playing in pubs to 50 people now they're playing European venues to 50,000."

"When Daniel was a kid with a temporary job he would play his guitar in his bedroom every night.

"On one occasion, I burst in his room and said 'when are you going to stop playing that thing and get yourself a proper job?'. He still reminds me of that moment."