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The Norwich Puppet Man is one of the best known street acts in Norfolk, with thousands of people joining appreciation groups on Facebook and watching him around the world on the YouTube website.

Usually based on Gentleman's Walk in Norwich city centre, he has a high-profile pitch and tourists and shoppers are often found taking pictures and videos.

His growing fame has even led to him being named as one of The Faces Of Norwich, but the act ofΜύThe Puppet Man - AKA David Perry - is nothing new. He first took to the streets more than 20 years ago.

"It just crossed my mind. I'd seen other buskers and decided to shake the puppets up and down for a laugh. Mind you, I got Β£80 worth of two pences and five pences and thought I'd do it again."

Tribute to the King

As the world marked the 30th anniversary of the death of Elvis, the Puppet Man paid his own tribute to the King. The puppets were swapped for a black wig and Perry showed shoppers his moves and grooves.

The singing Puppet Man is a relatively new incarnation of his act. Like most artists, he's had to reinvent himself over the years.

The Beatles' work changed massively as they matured as artists, Prince's moniker turned into a symbol and MC Hammer experimented with gangsta rap.

The Puppet Man is no different.

"I brought in the karaoke as I think it made it look more sensible. People have really started noticing more since I brought that in," said Mr Perry.

Fan base

The Puppet Man line-up includes old favourites Dougal the purple dog (on string) and Roy Waller (a snake made out of a sock). Recent additions to the cast include Basil the fox and Suzy the squirrel.

Aside from his growing internet fan-base, it seems a lot of people on the streets if Norwich seem quite fond of The Puppet Man.

He's "really good, I like the fact he has the nerve to do it," said one shopper.

"He's quite amusing, people do watch him," said another. And one small child summed him up as "funny".

Not everyone is as kind to The Puppet Man. Sometimes people hurl abuse at him for no apparent reason, but he puts up with it.

"I think it's not very nice," he said.

"There's one woman who walks past. If she's drunk she'll put a pound in the hat. If she's not she'll say you're a senile 'BLEEP' or a 'BLEEP'. I can't say the words!"

But whatever the hecklers think, David 'Puppet Man' Perry's fame is continuing to grow.

Aside from forum groups and videos on the internet, there is at least one website solely dedicated to him.

He's also admitted that he'd like to break into TV - in Coronation Street or Little Britain - but at the same time he doesn't want his cult status to go too far.