A fundraising news reporter had to ditch his fancy dress outfit for an unexpected interview with the Prime Minister – just hours after also appearing on a Channel 5 TV show.

Blackpool Gazette journalist Dave Sharman and his editorial colleagues had dressed up as superheroes to raise funds for the newspaper’s Hospice Heroes campaign as it aims to help refurbish two local care establishments.

Staff swapped usual office attire for batman, storm trooper and James Bond outfits while David donned his cricket whites for the day.

However a call from the Prime Minister’s office informing newsroom staff that David Cameron was on his way to Blackpool to meet emergency services crew and others affected by the recent storms brought about a quick change.

Dave, pictured, second right with superhero staff from the Blackpool Gazette

“I was the first reporter in the office at eight o’ clock and at one minute past the cabinet office rang to say that the Prime Minister was on his way,” Dave told HTFP.

“You can’t meet the Prime Minister wearing cricket whites – unless you’re playing cricket against him – so quick as a superhero I changed into something more appropriate and went off for the interview.”

So Dave popped along to cover the filming of the episode and enjoyed a quick cameo appearance when he was asked to go in front of his camera and offer his opinion on the hotel’s improvements.

“It was strange being on the other side of the camera, it’s usually me answering the questions but I was happy to do it,” added Dave.

It was a busy 24 hours for Dave who had made a cameo appearance on Channel 5 show Hotel Inspector the night before.

The programme, in which an industry expert visits a struggling British hotel to try and turn its fortunes, based an episode on The Vidella Hotel in Blackpool.

Dave was invited to the relaunch of The Vidella Hotel in Blackpool