Video footage of Cilla Black visiting the town has resurfaced almost 25 years after it was filmed.

The TV presenter came to Sittingbourne in March 1990, to spring a Surprise, Surprise on Whistling Postman Dale Howting.

It aired the following month but was recently shared on a Facebook group bringing memories flooding back for the now 80-year-old.

He said: “It was a great experience and it was all done in someone’s house.”

The dad-of-two was 55 when he entered the home of Pat and John Hutt in Northwood Drive, Sittingbourne.

He thought he was taking a special delivery to the couple who used to take in his mail bag for him to collect at the start of his rounds.

Little did he know that Cilla lay in wait for him behind a closed door.

He was nominated for the programme by one of his customers called Mrs Griggs, who lived in East Street, Sittingbourne, in recognition of him raising almost £100,000 for charity.

Mr Howting’s fundraising began in 1977, when he started helping local causes, neighbours and friends, but he wasn’t truly recognised until 1978, when he set out on his first charity cycle marathon and raised £2,000 to provide a new float for the carnival committee.

From then on he gave up two weeks of his holiday every year to complete rides around the country raising more and more funds each time.

He also collected at Sittingbourne market every Friday and Saturday.

Reminiscing about the moment he met the entertainer Mr Howting said: “She’s quite a character off and on set.

“They were waiting for me, 24 camera crew including Cilla and her husband [Bobby].

“I knew nothing about it.

“It took two days to do the filming but was cut down to about five minutes.”

Today, the retired Royal Mail worker, of Goodnestone Road, Sittingbourne, raises funds by pedalling on a static bike with a box on the front for people to drop their loose change into.

He can usually be found in the high street at the entrance to Roman Square from Monday to Saturday and inside Homebase on the Retail Park on Friday and Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday.

In September last year, he met his target of £250,000, seven days before his 80th birthday.

He was awarded the British Empire Medal in May 1990 and later given the honour of carrying the Olympic Torch.