The excitable Emma Thompson gets in a flap

There's no stopping a girl in search of a good time. And if these pictures are anything to go by, Emma Thompson certainly found it.

Dressed as a rather excitable flapper girl, she was in high spirits as she arrived at a fundraiser for breast cancer charity The Lavender Trust.

• Gallery: Emma Thompson's swinging night

Once inside, she really let her hair down, performing an enthusiastic solo dance routine. She didn't need a partner.

In fact anyone going too close could have been in danger of a stiletto in the shin as the 47-year-old actress kicked up her heels.

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But the fun was far from finished as she stepped off the dancefloor. She then took to the stage as the lead singer in a rather unlikely girl group.

With Nigella Lawson, Sophie Dahl, Zadie Smith and Thandie Newton, Miss Thompson belted out the Beatles classic Let It Be.

"The girls were having a fantastic time," said a guest. "There really was a sense of 'girls in it together'. Fuelled by a few vodka martinis, they got up on stage and really went for it."

The evening, called The Lavender Trust Speakeasy, included performances from Zadie Smith, accompanied on the piano by David Baddiel, singing "I Could Write A Book", and two songs by Sophie Dahl accompanied by Jamie Cullum.

Nigella Lawson and Thandie Newton were also all on fine singing and dancing form last night at Claridge's Hotel in Mayfair.

A charity auction raised £50,000 - the highest lot was a Chanel clover pendant in 18 carat gold with amethyst which went for £9,000, with a visit to Coco Chanel's Paris apartment thrown in.

Other guests included Tom Parker Bowles and wife Sara Buys, who was wearing an eye-wateringly high pair of heels.

"Those look very uncomfortable," commented a party-goer.

"Needs must," said Buys.

Another lot was a Matthew Williamson Lavender Georgette dress presented by Thompson. "I would model it for you but I can't fit into it," she said. "I have tried."

Ms Thompson took her role as mistress of ceremonies very seriously, but managed to find time to let her hair down with her fellow celebrity fundraisers.

By the end of a barnstorming evening which raised thousands for the charity, she had to be escorted to a waiting car. That's what they call 'doing your bit' for charity.

How's the head Emma?

More than £200,000 was raised for the charity.