Chart-topping girl band Little Mix delighted fans with a surprise visit to Forest Gate.

Newham Recorder: Little Mix filming in Forest Gate (picture: Jayshree Raichura)Little Mix filming in Forest Gate (picture: Jayshree Raichura) (Image: Jayshree Raichura)

The popular foursome headed to Number 8, Forest Gate Emporium, in Serbet Road last Tuesday to pose for a magazine photo shoot.

The former X Factor winners also took time to meet fans and take pictures during the short visit.

Co-owner of Number 8, Andrea Jaye, said the girls were in the area for most of the morning and early afternoon.

She said: “They took pictures alongside a red Ferrari that was arranged to be brought down and we allowed them to use the land at the front of the shop.

“They arrived quite early in the morning because they needed to get their hair and make-up done and then they spent about an hour-and-a-half outside as part of the photo shoot.”

It is believed the girl band, which consists of singers Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and Jade Thirlwall , got glammed up in the Forest Tavern pub in Forest Lane, before heading down to the shoot.

Andrea added: “It was amazing and really nice that they came down.

“They were really nice girls and they even came into our shop to have a look around.” Andrea explained how the visit remained a secret, saying: “No-one really knew about it and not a lot of people were about at the time.

“But we did have some schoolgirls come down and the girls took a picture with them which was nice.

“It was great having celebrities at the shop and in the area.”