The nuns at the Convent of St Mary usually have little to do with the bright lights and big money of the West End showbiz scene.

But they have 50,000 reasons to thank one of its stars after she left them a legacy from her £3.5m estate.

Anne Gainsmead, a former dancer and choreographer on the West End stage, has left £50,000 to the convent in Rottingdean High Street.

The performer, who lived in Grange Close, off Dean Court Road, Rottingdean, had befriended the nuns there several years ago.

She had wanted to become a Catholic, but it was not until she was dying in hospital that she was baptised.

Sister Margaret Kelly was shocked to hear how much money Miss Gainsmead had left. She said: "It's just as well I am sitting down. But that is just typical of Anne to surprise us. She never talked much about the things she did.

"Every now and again she would do a bit of a dance for us. You could tell she had been a professional as she was very light on her feet.

"She didn't seem to have any family, apart from a sister who died so we would keep an eye on her. If we met her when we were out shopping she would come with us and she would always come in for a cup of tea.

"We are very sorry the good Lord has called her home, but she was not well. She was very kind to us, and we miss her very much."

Sister Pauline Last said: "She was a lovely person and we were all very fond of her."

The rest of Ms Gainsmead's estate has been left to friends and relatives.