Thousands of music fans packed Brighton seafront to see one of the UK's hottest bands play the biggest concert the beach has seen in four years.

A select group of 600 people were texted details of the secret gig by rock outfit Razorlight on their mobile phones.

But word soon got round that something extraordinary was happening and as lead-singer Johnny Borrell took the stage the crowd had swelled to almost 4,500.

Crowds of people danced in the sunshine in scenes reminiscent of Fatboy Slim's beach party, without the overcrowding which brought Brighton to near meltdown in 2002.

But as Zoe Ball introduced the London four-piece to a screaming audience by the West Pier, her husband was left wondering "why aren't I up there?"

Fatboy Slim has been desperate to arrange a follow-up to his Big Beach Boutique concert in 2002 but police have so far refused.

The Hove DJ aka Norman Cook said: "This is great fun. It's fantastic that we're still allowed to do things like this in Brighton but I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a little bit of me that was saying 'why couldn't I do this again?'

"I had goose bumps seeing the crowd. It's brought back a lot of memories. I don't really do rock music but it was great to see them doing what they do.

"Everybody in Brighton wants me to do another show: the council, the mayor. It's just the police but surely there must be a way?."

Police said a "media blackout" had been imposed for the Razorlight concert, performed in a fenced area just yards from the beach.

The lack of publicity helped keep crowds to a manageable number but thousands turned up to see the post-punk rockers perform an hour-long set.

Organisers from Vodaphone and Endemol Television, who filmed the gig for Channel 4, said they had spent months preparing the event with Brighton and Hove City Council and Sussex Police.

The telephone company sent barcoded tickets to customers' mobiles yesterday afternoon allowing them entry to an exclusive VIP area.

But information on where the band were playing was only released at the last minute to guarantee a show just for local fans.

Some only realised what was going on when they heard the noise - but police said at least 4,500 joined the throng.

Guy Smith, of Norfolk Square, Brighton: "Me and my girlfriend are both fans so this was a real surprise.

"We had just got back from holiday and we had no idea it was going on. We were just walking along and saw it - it's a good thing to come home to."

Fans stretched 20-deep onto the beach and along the esplanade as far as the West Pier.

But in contrast to the Fatboy Slim concert, when the city was overwhelmed by 250,000 fans, yesterday families had space to spread out blankets for their children to play on.

Louise Hewitt, of The Drive, Hove, took her two-year-old son Reuben.

She said: "There seems to be loads of room but they haven't told lots of Londoners to come so that's probably why."

As the crowd joined in to sing the chorus of Razorlight's Golden Touch, Norman Cook stood backstage, soaking up the atmosphere.

He said: "Watching this has frustrated me, as well as encouraging me that it can be done. I do really want to do another show, on whatever scale. It brings kudos and money to the city."

He added: "I'd be dishonest if there wasn't a little bit of jealousy.

"If we can do it just for Brighton people with this type of crowd I'd be happy. Totally free, just for the locals."

Last night, council leader Simon Burgess added his support to the enterprise.

He said: "It was great to see so many people enjoying themselves. Isn't that what this place is about - lots of people on the beach, enjoying the sun listening to good music? Fatboy Slim should be there.

"Clearly we'll have to work with police on safety and things but this is something we need to rise up to. If Norman's up for it I think we should do it."

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "Following Fatboy Slim's 'Big Boutique' held on Brighton beach in 2002, police conducted health and safety reviews and deemed that the shelved, tidal, pebble beach is not an appropriate location to hold any further music events, either dance or rock events, where the audience will be dancing, even if it is a ticketed event and numbers are restricted.

"Today's Razorlight's performance is being held on level concreted ground on the site of the old paddling pools by the West Pier."