HE maybe a hugely successful author and comedian worth an estimated £17 million but David Walliams proved he was prepared to roll-up his sleeves and get his hands dirty for the good of the community.

The star of Little Britain joined 30 volunteers for the first Friends of Hove Lagoon clean-up on Sunday.

Claire Potter, from Surfers Against Sewage, inspired the volunteers into action with a talk about the harm that plastics do to the environment.

Mr Walliams, who has had a home in the city for eight years, helped out with the clean-up, posed for photographs and signed a birthday card for friends chairman coincillor Robert Nemeth .

Cllr Nemeth said: “With backing from David Walliams, Surfers Against Sewage and so many local residents and businesses, I think that we must be doing something right.

“We weren’t sure how our first event would go but, given its success, we shall be holding similar events every six months.”