Restaurant staff were left on tenterhooks when they were called to say David Beckham was coming to dinner.

Day’s in East Street, Brighton, a self-service Chinese restaurant, got a phonecall from a man claiming to be the superstar’s personal assistant on Saturday afternoon.

He asked to book a table for 30 people for 8.30pm – but then never arrived.

In a separate call a man claiming he had seen Beckham at The Grand hotel contacted The Argus early on Saturday evening.

He supplied a photograph he said showed the footballer getting into a car at the back of the hotel.

The picture was actually taken in 2008 and features on a celebrity website.

Staff at The Grand said they were not aware he was staying at the hotel.

Beckham’s last public appearance was on the David Letterman Show in New York on Friday – but he is reported to have taped the appearance on Tuesday.

On Friday he was photographed outside a Coffee Bean shop in Hollywood.

Day’s manager Michael He (CORR) confirmed the restaurant had received a reservation from Beckham’s assistant on Saturday, but did not clear any tables because he did not call back to confirm.

He said: “It was really exciting. I said to the personal assistant, are you joking?

“He said: ‘No, do you want a deposit?’”

At about 9pm he got another call, saying Beckham was not feeling well and had gone back to London.

Mr He said: “I was a little bit disappointed when he didn’t come but it’s OK. He can come back when he wants.”