A giant portrait of rock superstar Freddie Mercury which used to hang outside a Brighton gay pub is to go under the hammer.

The portrait - one of two which hung outside the Queen's Head in George Street, Brighton - will be sold during a tribute night to the Queen frontman, who died almost ten years ago.

The pub is organising a Freddie Mercury party on November 24 to raise money for an Aids charity.

General manager Darren Elliott said: "It is ten years since Freddie passed away and we are organising a tribute night to celebrate his life and to benefit the Terence Higgins Trust, which was one of his favourite charities.

"It is also an excuse to have a good party."

Among the events planned is a charity auction at which the giant pub sign will be the star attraction.

Mr Elliot said: "The signs are well-known around Brighton because they were outside the pub for a long time.

"We are keeping the other one to hang up on the wall inside the pub."

The signs were taken down during refurbishment by the Zel pub chain earlier this year.

A new one, also depicting Freddie Mercury, was put up in the summer.

Mr Elliott said: "The old signs were very well-known but they looked a little bit dated, especially since we have updated the pub.

"The new sign we have put up is still a picture of Freddie but with a more modern approach.

"People liked the Freddie Mercury signs and they pulled in a lot of customers so we had to keep him outside. I think there are a lot of Freddie fans out there."

The tribute party will have DJs mixing Queen songs with house music.

The bar staff will be in fancy dress and customers are encouraged to turn up dressed as characters from Queen videos.

The pub will stay open until midnight and has pledged 25 per cent of bar profits taken during the extra hour to the Terence Higgins Trust.