THE Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins splashed out £3,000 on his latest wacky stage outfit.The singer/guitarist - known for his outrageous catsuits - donned the orange leather creation for his performance at last night's Mercury Music Prize ceremony.

THE Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins splashed out £3,000 on his latest wacky stage outfit.

The singer/guitarist - known for his outrageous catsuits - donned the orange leather creation for his performance at last night's Mercury Music Prize ceremony.

Justin said in a Virgin Radio interview that he was considering auctioning it for charity.

The retro-rockers - dubbed "the band that time forgot" for their Seventies heavy rock sound and image - had been favourite to land the Mercury but were beaten by rapper Dizzee Rascal.

However the band, originally from Lowestoft, were sanguine about their defeat shortly afterwards. Drummer Dan Hawkins said: "We're glad we didn't win. We respect the Mercury Prize but it would not have been right for us to win it so early in our career.'

Justin talking about his outfit, in an interview to be broadcast by Virgin on Sunday, said: "This little zip-up number in orange leather and gold dots is worth around £3,000.

"I reckon we could auction it off for more than that because we could add a stupidity tax on top.'

The Suffolk quartet have already scored a number one album in the UK with debut album Permission To Land.

And Dan said they were now hoping to crack the US: "This flying start in the UK has led to sell-out gigs in New York and LA - we're ready for America now, let us have it.'

The interview is part of the Superstars Mercury Music Prize Special with Ben Jones on Sunday.