Barbra's in town, and she's a demanding guest

Barbra Streisand indulged in some retail therapy at a Mayfair china shop on the eve of her sell-out concert at the O2 Arena.

The superstar was pictured browsing among the glass and silverware at Thomas Goode, near to The Dorchester where she is staying.

Streisand, 65, has taken over the top-floor £6,000-a-night Oliver Messel suite where she is known to have made a number of strict demands.

Staff at the hotel told how they were sent an extensive list by her management, saying Streisand must not be approached by staff unless specifically requested and exactly which linen sheets, flowers and candles she expected.

One source at the hotel: "We were given a list of requirements that had to be met. Her manager said she needed certain things to make her feel like she was at home.

"She is using her own security team and will hardly set foot in the main areas of the hotel. It is easy to enter and exit the hotel from her suite without ever being seen."

With top seats at the O2 Arena costing £500 and some tickets changing hands on the internet for £1,500, the veteran singer has been accused of cashing in on her first British tour since 1994.

Streisand has a reputation for being a demanding star, but after 13 multi-platinum albums and breaking box-office records in America with £46 million taken in her latest tour she might feel she deserves it. Another source at The Dorchester said: "We are used to famous people here, but Miss Streisand is almost on a different level.

"Johnny Depp was here a few weeks ago, but was very low key. He just sat with friends in the bar. He was drinking a £600 bottle of wine, but he did not expect any special treatment.

"Even Michael Jackson just sat in the bar drinking a fairly unexciting bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. But we are expecting everything to be different for her."