AN Elton John impersonator moved shoppers to tears when he performed Candle in the Wind on Preston Flag Market.

The fund-raising show coincided with the release of the pop singer's tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, which caused a frenzy in record shops on Saturday (September 13).

Leyland singer Dean Torkington donned four different costumes made by wife Marian, including a suit similar to Elton's when he sang the song at Diana's funeral.

Passers-by bombarded Dean with more than £500 which will go towards Diana's memorial fund. It took almost two hours to count it.

Dean, who has appeared in one of the singer's pop videos, said he was close to tears when performing the Diana tribute.

He said: "People were crying when I played Candle in the Wind. They kept requesting it. I was even asked to sign copies. It was very moving.

"I felt I just had to do it."

Copies of Candle in the Wind sold out within an hour in Preston.

HMV on Fishergate sold its first delivery of a thousand copies, with queues of people waiting before the store opened.

Stockroom controller Paul Wignall said: "Some people got upset because there were none left."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.