He may not be the President of the United States – but that didn’t stop Marilyn Monroe gatecrashing his birthday bash.

The screen icon demonstrated how Gentleman still Prefer Blondes as she purred Happy Birthday to Brighton and Hove City Mayor Geoff Wells.

Echoing the sizzling performance given to American President John F Kennedy, the blonde bombshell proved to revellers at Brighton Town Hall that There's No Business Like Show Business.

The pin-up, played by 22-year-old lookalike Laura Nixon, wasn’t invited to the birthday party and official launch of the Mayor's charity fundraising appeal, but was waved in by door staff.

Laura said: “I've been a Marilyn Monroe impersonator for the last six years and I've been hired for a lot of private and corporate events.

“A friend of mine, who was invited, told me about the party. That evening I was down to make an appearance and as I was already dressed up thought I would go.

“I just walked up to the door, looking like Marilyn, and they led me straight in.

“I took advantage of a free glass of wine and walked straight up to him and sang 'Happy Birthday'.”

She added that although she had to tell the 64-year-old mayor off for not inviting her, the evening went with a bang.

Coun Wells, who was elected Mayor last month, has chosen the Sussex Heart Charity, the Alzheimer’s Society, Macmillan Cancer and the Martlets as his chosen charities during his year in office.

He said: “Marilyn is a very attractive gatecrasher and she was no problem – quite the contrary. She sang to me the same song that Marilyn Monroe the first sang to President Kennedy all those years ago and it was just as nice.

“The nicest gatecrasher one would want made for a most enjoyable launch to my charities and to round off my birthday celebrations. I look forward to meeting her again one day.”