Hundreds of children proved they were the nation's bravest by being the very first to watch new must-see Disney movie Monsters Inc.

More than 350 people packed into the Odeon in Brighton for the special screening last night.

The film is not due to open for two weeks and the screening was held an hour and a half before yesterday's official premiere at Leicester Square, London.

Everyone watching also helped raise £1,775 for under-privileged children in Sussex as all proceeds went towards The Argus Appeal.

The movie, which was created by the team behind Toy Story, follows two monsters, Sulley and Mike, whose job is to scare children at night.

But youngsters lining up for last night's screening proved they were not afraid and pulled some scary monster faces of their own.

One even said she thought Sulley - who is turquoise with blue spots and horns - looked like her granny.

First in the queue were brothers Joseph and Christopher Harris, aged six and three, from Hove.

They said they had seen Toy Story and were really looking forward to Monsters Inc.

Six-year-old Shaun Ring, from Hove, arrived carrying a cuddly version of green one-eyed Mike.

He said: "I believe in monsters but they don't scare me, they're friendly. I think they come alive when everyone is asleep.

"I have Mike and in my bag I have the other monster, Sulley. I got them in America and I saw lots of adverts for the film."

Mae Harris, six, agreed that monsters came to life at night.

Another fan clutching a mini-Mike was three-year-old Emily Tarlton. Her mum Karen Biles said: "She has seen the film advertised for ages and has been counting down the days to see it. She has not been very well lately so this is a little treat for her."

Odeon duty manager Steve Tettersell said: "It is quite a coup for us having the premiere. It is almost in tandem with Leicester Square but we are just in front."

Everyone arriving for the screening had to collect tokens from The Argus last week.