Shoreham-born pop legend, Leo Sayer, said he was "blown away" by the success DJ Meck's version of Thunder In My Heart.

He said: "It really has caught me by surprise. This business comes in cycles - it's amazing how these things come round."

Sayer, 57, recently moved to Australia after becoming disillusioned with the UK music industry.

Yesterday he admitted he was glad to be back and is enjoying his return to form.

He added: "The fame and fortune is nice although I am really only happy when I've written a good song and this is exactly what this is, a good song, come back round again."

Sayer attended what is now Chatsmore Catholic High School in the early Sixties and was a student at Worthing Art College in Union Place between 1966 and 1968.

He played the harmonica for a band called Patches at the Mexican Hat nightclub in Worthing, which opened at the end of November 1962.

Sayer's life changed in 1972 when he saw a notice in The Argus advertising a talent show in Brighton and was spotted by music impressario David Courtney, who is behind Brighton's Walk of Fame, and the late Adam Faith.

In 1974, Sayer had his first hit with The Show Must Go On and became renowned for wearing a clown's outfit, with full greasepaint makeup, while performing in front of the cameras.

During the Seventies, Sayer had hit after hit, made regular TV appearances and became a household name.

One of his best-known hits, Moonlighting, was based on the Mexican Hat and the lyrics describe nearby Montague Street.

Thunder In My Heart was originally realised in 1977 and reached number 22. It was given a new lease of life when Meck, a British dance DJ, came across the song in a Los Angeles thrift shop and remixed it.

Sayer is delighted with the results. He said: "He has made a great version of it, not too different from the original but brilliantly brought up to date.

"It is amazing to feel the reaction to something made so long ago, but I am really thrilled that my music seems to be standing the test of time."