Pint-sized pop star Kylie Minogue paid a surprise visit to Croydon's Brit School yesterday.

Students came flooding out of lessons at the performing arts and technology school to catch a glimpse of the Aussie icon.

Kylie turned up in a big silver car sporting a new Marilyn Monroe inspired hairdo and a tiny black dress.

One student said: "She walked around the school, rumours flying that she is looking for dancers, others saying she is giving an award to a student.

"Whatever her reason, it's one of the best things that has happened since I started."

Kylie's visit was linked to an award from the Music Industry Trust which she is due to receive later this month.

It is awarded annually to an individual who has made a distinctive and lasting contribution to the British music industry.

The award has raised more than £2.7million for Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy and the Brit Trust and Kylie toured the school to see how the cash has been used.

The singer stayed at the school for an hour and insisted principal Nick Williams danced with her on the staircase before she left.

Mr Williams said: "It was brilliant. She was delightful and really superb with the students.

"Most of them did not know she was coming so on the way in to the school they were pretty amazed.

"She went round quite a few of our classrooms and insisted on waiting until the students had finished school to leave.

"Hundreds of them were waiting to meet her and she asked me to dance down the stairs towards them with her which was wonderful. I think she has probably had better dance partners but I wasn't going to object."

Kylie later picked up a Q Idol award at the ceremony at the Grosvenor House hotel.

Former Brit School students include The Feeling, The Kooks, Amy Winehouse and Kate Nash.