Fans flock to dress like Elton

Sir Elton and David Furnish were there to greet eager shoppers

More than 200 fans of Sir Elton John have queued outside a charity shop to snap up items of the singer's clothes at a knock-down price.

Sir Elton was opening a charity sale of cast-offs from his extensive wardrobe in New Bond Street on Wednesday.

Among the first through the door of the Out of the Closet III sale was 69-year-old John Webb from Walthamstow, east London.

Looking after the cast-offs has become a full-time job

Mr Webb said he was mainly there to find a present for his nephew but he added: "I am also on the lookout for a nice Elton John wig."

The 15,000 items up for sale ranged from baseball caps, costing £5 to outrageous stage costumes going for thousands of pounds.

The most expensive item on sale at £25,000 was an extravagant electric blue and purple stage costume with matching gown, worn by the singer on his 1986 world tour.

Many of the sale's customers had queued for hours and come a long way.

Sharon Kalinoski, 36, from Chicago - who runs the American branch of the Sir Elton John Fan Club - spent more than £1,000.

But, like many of the eager shoppers, Ms Kalinoski, said she could not get enough of Sir Elton's cast-offs.

It's the poshest charity shop I've ever been in, I'm very impressed.

Sir Elton John

She declared she would be back the following day, adding: "I bought over 60 items, some of which I will keep and some of which I will give to fans back in the US."

Sir Elton, 53, hopes to beat the £330,000 he raised at his last sale in 1997.

He arrived before its midday start for a champagne breakfast with friends and his partner David Furnish - who has donated 20% of the sale items.

Other pieces include jackets in tartan, red gingham, and leopard print - as well as antiques and, paintings.

Bargain hunters could snap up shirts and shoes from £20, although leather jackets were a touch more pricey at around £500.

Eyeing up a bargain: Prices start from £5

Among the more striking offerings was a black and green luminous leopard print Versace suit costing £2,500.

Sir Elton joked: "It's the poshest charity shop I've ever been in, I'm very impressed."

Earlier this month the 53-year-old admitted spending £30m in just under two years, under questioning in an ongoing multi-million pound contract battle at the High Court.

He said of the case: "I accept that I was going to get a lot of publicity with that line of spending - but I love spending. I pay my taxes, I just enjoy it."

The sale will run every day until all the stock has been sold.