Kylie is a model shopper

The schoolboys could hardly believe their luck. There they were, trudging through the shopping centre and talking about girls when one of them spotted Kylie Minogue.

It was only when they'd pounded up the escalator and skidded round the corner that they realised they were lusting after a waxwork.

The Australian singer is one of the stars of a new exhibition opening today at Bluewater. Rock and Pop, the first Madame Tussaud's tour since 1835, features 40 musicians ranging from the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix to Bono and Jarvis Cocker, and is designed to introduce the famous waxworks to a new audience.

"Madame Tussaud's has a huge number of overseas visitors but we wanted to take the figures to a new home audience, to give a taster to people who wouldn't normally think of coming to us," said a spokeswoman for the Baker Street attraction.

"Many Londoners think the show is still how it used to be, with the figures roped off. But now you can touch and hug them." The Rock and Pop exhibition costs £3.50 for adults, £3 for children and runs at Bluewater for three months.