An album produced by Sussex-based Hot Records has hit number one.

And Eastbourne rockers Toploader have also helped put the county firmly on the music map by securing the number three spot with Magic Hotel.

Eva Cassidy's Imagine has knocked Red Hot Chilli Peppers' By The Way off the top album spot. But its success is even more remarkable because Eva died of cancer six years ago.

Record label Hot Records, based in Angmering, heard some of her tunes and was so taken aback by her talent it decided to release some of her work posthumously.

The result has been astonishing. In Spring 1998, the album Songbird became a smash hit.

Her music has been described as a mixture of soul and jazz which, after receiving Radio 2 airplay, captured the hearts of the nation.

Andrew Bowles, UK manager of Hot Records, said: "Seconds into a song, the BBC was flooded with calls."

Toploader scored a huge success with Dancing In The Moonlight, which featured on the Sainsbury's advert starring chef Jamie Oliver.