Whole Lotta surprises at Ledbury charity gig as world-renowned rock icon wows crowd

But the Led Zeppelin frontman's latest public appearance was in the altogether different surroundings of Ledbury's Market Theatre where he gave a surprise performance to fundraisers attending an evening of classical music.

Plant, who sang on hits including Whole Lotta Love and Stairway to Heaven, had been an audience member during the rotary charity concert in aid of Acorns children's hospice.

The star, 66, even sold CDs for a friend, Deborah Rose, who was performing at the venue in the centre of the market town on Saturday night.

But few of the 100-or-so people in attendance realised who he was until he was invited on stage by Miss Rose to sing a version of the song Love Hurts. He later posed for photos and signed autographs for fans.

"It was such a fantastic night and completely out of the blue," said audience member Jan Long, who is a big Led Zeppelin fan.

"Singer Deborah Rose got on stage and said she would like to invite 'Robert' from the audience to sing.

"People were then saying; 'I'm sure I recognise that man'. By the time he started singing the audience knew who it was.

"It was a wonderful atmosphere.

"During the interval he had even been selling CDs for Deborah. This is a man worth about £80 million and he was selling CDs for her.

"People who didn't want to go must be kicking themselves."

Mrs Long said the special guest was very approachable and posed for many photographs with audience members after the show. She said about £1,000 was raised for Acorns.

Before Plant's surprise appearance, Tenor Carlos Alfonso and Soprano Livia King had been billed as the headline acts, with Ledbury's Philip Holland playing piano.

Ledbury Rotary Club president Mark Waller said; “The generous sum raised through the sales of raffle tickets and entrance fees will go towards supporting the Acorns children’s hospice appeals."