Politicians often think they have a bit of the rock star about them.

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair only turned to Westminster after his music career failed and ex-US President Bill Clinton plays a mean tenor saxophone.

But Worthing mayor Noel Atkins has outrocked his political rivals - by crowd-surfing at a festival.

Councillor Atkins, clad in his mayoral chain, was held aloft for about two minutes as a crowd of 14,000 roared with approval.

His appearance at the Big Church Day Out was his first official engagement as the Worthing’s ceremonial head.

And despite grinning widely throughout, Coun Atkins has confessed he had no idea what he had signed up for.

He said: “I’ve received a huge number of compliments for doing it but I must admit I really didn’t know what was happening.

“I was on stage to say a few words and then I was asked if I wanted to go crowd surfing.

“I thought it might be going up in a crane lift and surfing the crowd from a height.

“The trouble is you take everything by trust and I didn’t really know what was going on.

“The announcer said: ‘We’re doing this because it is fun but also as a sign of supporting our local dignitaries’.

“Then before I knew it I was being lifted over the crowds.

“It was such a great sensation although I was a little bit concerned that I might lose my trousers “Now that I know what it means I might think twice about doing it.

“But we had a fantastic time and it was such a marvellous event.”

Coun Atkins became Worthing’s 93rd mayor on Friday.

He was invited to the Big Church Day Out by organiser Tim Jupp, the keyboard player from Littlehampton band Delirious?.

The group was one of the acts performing at the sell-out Christian festival at the Wiston Estate in Steyning on Sunday.

It was focussed on bringing together churchgoers from across the South of England.

Footage of the mayor’s crowd surf has been uploaded onto YouTube where it has received a five-star rating from fans.

One reveller described Coun Atkins as “the coolest mayor” he had ever met.

Another two have admitted to touching his bottom.