Julie Walters visits Brighton's latest celebrity hotspot (From The Argus)

Julie Walters visits Brighton's latest celebrity hotspot

9:50am Tuesday 20th March 2012 in News

Forget the Grand Hotel, the Palace Pier or the Brighton Wheel - it seems the city's hottest celebrity hangout is the CityClean learning resource centre.

Yesterday, Julie Walters became the latest famous face to visit the centre, after employee Wes Lee Emond wrote her a letter singing its praises.

The Educating Rita star first found fame as a working class girl eager to learn more about the world.

But in a reversal of roles, Julie Walters was the one giving out tips yesterday to those working to keep Brighton and Hove at its best.

Ms Walters, who starred in the Harry Potter films and Calendar Girls, and appeared as Mrs Overall in Victoria Wood’s Acorn Antiques, answered questions from the students at the Hollingdean centre, who combine lessons in numeracy and literacy with their day jobs as parks and refuse staff.

She also signed autographs and even donned a high-visibility jacket to board a refuse truck.

Elaine Sweetman, the centre’s learning development officer, said: “These trips are vital to raise the profile of the work we do.

“About 100 people have gained qualifications from the centre in the past year and this helps the workers with everything from filling out forms as part of their jobs to helping their children with homework. It really helps boost their confidence.”

Ms Walters was following in the footsteps of Peter James, who visited in December, and Dame Vera Lynn, who visited in December 2009.

More recent celebrity spots in Brighton include James McAvoy on the Brighton Wheel last weekend, and Pippa Middleton on the Palace Pier the previous weekend.