A star-studded party raised a record £57,000 in just one night for The Argus Appeal - £19,000 more than last year.

Champagne and wine flowed freely as guests sat down to a spread of food before dancing the evening away during the launch night of The Argus Appeal 2003 at the Hilton Metropole Hotel in Brighton on Saturday.

Almost 500 people from the world of screen, stage, media and business turned out to the glittering event on Saturday, digging deep into their pockets to raise the grand sum for the needy people in Sussex.

The night was the culmination of a year of hard work and fund-raising by organisers and supporters of The Argus Appeal. The biggest slice of the cash was raised during the evening's auction when guests bid for an appealing array of lots, almost doubling last year's record-breaking total of £38,000.

Guests arriving at 7pm were greeted to a champagne reception as they browsed over the lots on display before making their way to their tables.

The 6th Hove Drum and Bugle Corps launched the evening's entertainment with a rousing fanfare.

ITN newsreader and compere of the evening, Nicholas Owen, welcomed guests and explained how the hard work of all those involved in the appeal helps a wide range of Sussex charities.

He introduced a short film that showed some of the many people who have benefited from the appeal, which also helped buy the Gingerbread bus, which is now by many organisations across the county.

Mr Owen, who was assisted by Richard Lindfield, sport reporter for Southern FM's and the Leader series, and Mark Buckle of Scott's Garage, moved the evening along as he introduced some of the many notable guests at the glitzy event.

Cheers and applause went up across the room as he welcomed millionaire businessman Robbie Raggio, who runs Hove Station Car Wash. His offering was a year of free car washes to the highest bidder, which Ken Jones, Chief Constable of Sussex Police, and author Anthony Seldon snapped up.

One of the biggest cheers was given for the Queen Mother's butler, Billy Tallon.

Mr Owen than introduced Howard Scott, chairman of the appeal trustees and managing director of Newsquest Sussex, who thanked everyone for coming and told them how the appeal had allocated more than £70,000 to local causes during the past 12 months alone - the highest amount in the appeal's history.

He told how The Argus Appeal had been making a difference for 45 years and how it had raised hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Former Dollar member turned ice-cream seller David Van Day joined in the evening's fun when auctioneer Richard Lindfield, assisted by Mr Owen, opened the bidding.

Simon Bradshaw, editor of The Argus, who offered to donate his services for a day, moonlighting for the highest bidder, was bought twice by Roger French of Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company and BAA at Gatwick Airport.

Bidders, who got into a frenzy of excitement, had the chance to get their hands on lots ranging from a private box at the Oasis's concert in Brighton, to tea at the House of Commons.

One of the more unusual lots of the evening was Anna Kournikova's signed bra, which was bought for £500.

DJ Norman Cook donated a selection of Big Beach Boutique memorabilia, and photographs of the event, taken by Argus photographer Aaron St Clair, were among an array of showbiz memorabilia sold for £1,100.

One determined guest, Victor Heal, is pleased to say Elvis is now back in the building at his Churchill Amusement Arcade, after he bid £1,100.

Argus Appeal co-ordinator Elsa Gillio said: "We are so grateful to people for getting into the spirit of the evening and also to all those who supported the appeal by donating such wonderful things. It was a sensational evening."