Jim and Jill Craig will never forget the day they broke down in the centre of Brixton.

Jim had to kick off his stiletto shoes, jump out of the car and push if off a pedestrian crossing while wearing stockings, suspenders, a basque and full make-up.

He recalled: "Nobody helped me. They just stared, yelled and whistled."

The couple, from Worthing, were on their way to a Rocky Horror Show in London when the car conked out.

Since 1998, they have attended hundreds of shows, usually bagging front row seats and their travels have taken them many thousands of miles all over Britain and abroad.

Last year, Jim, 46, and Jill, 45, who run Suds launderette in Rowlands Road, jetted out to Minneapolis in the USA for a performance and they have also visited Milan in Italy.

So they are looking forward to a relatively short journey along the coast when the famous show stops at the Theatre Royal, Brighton, from next Monday to March 22.

Over the years the couple have become firm friends with the cast and they are being invited backstage several nights next week.

Jim said: "I am going to sit behind the drummer for one show and on the music desk for another. Jill will be watching the dressing and costume side of it.

"It all started in 1998. We had seen the film years ago and then we noticed it was touring the country and thought we would go along and see it.

"It was such great fun and the people we met were really nice. It just took off from there.

"Not only do we see the show, but we also look around the town or city where it is being staged."

So far, during the current tour, the Craigs have been to Bromley, Richmond, Oxford, Bristol, Jersey, Woking, Canterbury and High Wycombe.

There were fears Jersey might ban the show for its lewd content but it went ahead and Jim and Jill were even asked to sign autographs.

They also showed many people in the audience how to do the arm movements and hip-wiggling associated with the Timewarp.

Jim said: "They took to it brilliantly and now we are looking forward to Brighton, which is the shortest journey we have ever had to do for a show."