Soul legend Isaac Hayes - who's also the voice of South Park's Chef - strutted his stuff with Castle Point's mayor at a charity bash which raised £30,000.

Charles Smith joined 14 other mayors and deputy mayors from Sussex, Surrey and Kent at the annual Saint Hill Gala Charity Concert.

The event takes its name from its venue - Saint Hill Manor in East Grinstead, the former home of science fiction author L Ron Hubbard.

Isaac Hayes - who sang the theme to hit film Shaft - performed with a host of other celebrity musicians who flew in specially from the USA.

They included Grammy and Emmy award-winning composer Mark Isham, hiphop artist Doug E Fresh - the original "human beatbox".

British swing and jive band, Jive Aces also played, to accompaniment from the internationally-acclaimed Golden Era Musicians.

The performance had Mr Smith and the rest of the 3,000-strong audience on their feet.

Mr Smith said: "I just can't sit still when there is good music being played so I actually got up on stage and had a boogie with Issac Hayes."

The concert, held on Sunday, raised money for Advance - the chosen charity of East Grinstead's mayor - the National Association of Ex-Offenders and the Litchfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust.

Each of the three charities received a cheque for £10,000 from the concert's proceeds.

Published Thursday October 24, 2002

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