James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan has become patron of a Mid Sussex charity.

Pierce Brosnan, who plays 007 in the spy movies, has agreed to help the Triangle Healing Trust in Cuckfield.

He met founder Judy Porter three years ago at a concert by their mutual friend, American singer-songwriter James Taylor.

Mr Taylor was giving an exclusive concert to raise funds for the centre at Borde Hill, near Haywards Heath.

Brosnan, 49, agreed to get involved with the charity after Mrs Porter wrote to him in June.

She set up the charity, which runs the Old Hospital Healing Centre, after the death of her husband six years ago, with her friend Tina Breene.

Mrs Porter said Brosnan, star of Die Another Day, endorsed the work they were doing and she described him as a "lovely man".

Brosnan, who lost his first wife to ovarian cancer, broke off from a punishing series of promotional appearances for his new film to confirm his support for the centre.

And Mrs Porter met Brosnan last Friday at the BBC just before he began filming for an appearance on the Parkinson chat show.