An unusual exhibit in Worthing Museum's costume collection is a pair of Queen Victoria's knickers.

They are used, crotchless and have a waist measurement of 52in which indicates how fat the Queen became in her later years.

Apparently she was in the habit of giving used knickers to her ladies in waiting and hostesses of houses she visited.

Like the Queen herself, they would have been entitled to exclaim on receiving the soiled gifts: "We are not amused."