It was not so much one step beyond as a short hop to visit a Kent seaside town for one of the UK’s best-loved singers.

Suggs, frontman of Madness, visited Herne Bay pier on Saturday to the delight of onlooking staff and visitors.

The musician, originally from Camden in north London, is no stranger to the area with he and his wife having a beach hut in nearby Whitstable. Madness also headline another show at Margate’s Dreamland this summer.

Pier trustee Michael Scott told KentOnline: “Suggs just took time out of his day to visit us and to have a coffee.

“He has visited us several times and is always very polite and friendly. Locals often see him in the area.

“My Facebook post has received 70,000 views and hundreds of comments from fans and the public saying that they have met him and what a lovely person he is.”

The Herne Bay Pier Facebook page said: “They say you should never meet your heroes but we did when Suggs visited the pier today. It was fabulous to meet him and very kind of him to let us take a photo. Thank you so much Suggs and thank you for supporting our pier.”

Suggs, real name Graham McPherson, 64, shot to fame at the age of 18 with Madness in 1979.

They went on to have a string of hits - including Baggy Trousers and House of Fun - becoming one of the biggest bands of the 1980s.

The group broke up in 1986 but reunited in 1992 with sell-out shows at Finsbury Park and have been together and constantly touring ever since.

They are set to appear at Dreamland in Margate on August 2.