By Lisa CleverdonAN Elvis fan was left All Shook Up when he rocked his way to first place in a competition held to commemorate The King's first number one hit.

By Lisa Cleverdon

AN Elvis fan was left All Shook Up when he rocked his way to first place in a competition held to commemorate The King's first number one hit.

The contest was organised by shop chain Elvisly Yours was held to find an Elvis Presley impersonator to perform in a new themed restaurant in London.

Paul Lillie, from Bury St Edmunds, wowed judges with his renditions of Elvis classics Viva Las Vegas and That's Alright Mama to win the competition.

The 36-year-old, who has made a career of impersonating Elvis for the past 10 years, said he was thrilled after being chosen, along with one other Presley fan, to be given first prize.

Mr Lillie donned his Blue Suede Shoes and joined 50 other Elvis Presley impersonators from across the country on an open-top bus around London as part of the competition.

“We got some very strange looks driving around in the bus, but I suppose it is not every day you see 50 Elvises singing and dancing around London,” he said.

“After performing in Piccadilly, we got back on the bus and drove to Baker Street, where the winner was announced.

“There was only supposed to be one winner, but the judges decided to give two of us first prize in the end, as we both represented a different era of Elvis.

“The whole day was just amazing and there was such a good atmosphere, so winning the competition was just a bonus.”

Mr Lillie, who lives with his partner Linzi, will have the honour of performing on the opening night of the new restaurant next year, followed by a further nine performances.

He said: “I was absolutely delighted to win the competition because the prize is very practical and I am hoping it will allow me to further develop my career.

“There were some really astonishing Elvises on the day, of all shapes and sizes, and everyone was just so supportive of the other contestants that it didn't really feel like a competition at all.”

Mr Lillie, a lifelong Presley fan, made the move from musician and band member to an Elvis impersonator after realising the tribute scene was about to take off in a big way in the mid-1980s.

“I had always been influenced by his music and I soon realised that being an impersonator is a very enjoyable way to make living,” he said.

Mr Lillie will be performing at the Quay Theatre in Sudbury on July 14, along with his 10-piece band, A Little Less Conversation. The show begins at 8pm and tickets are priced £12.

lisa.cleverdon@eadt.co.uk