COACH driver Laurence Pressley was all shook up when he discovered he was related to his lifelong hero Elvis.

Laurence, who has lived in Darlington for nearly 20 years, has spent his life joking that he was the King's poor relation - but never dreamed he was really a member of his idol's family.

The 45-year-old, who was born in Scotland, has a vast collection of Elvis memorabilia. And he almost dropped his pint when a television crew turned up at his local on Sunday and told him the news.

A researcher for Carlton Television's Find Your Family show had managed to track Laurence down after researching the musical legend's family tree and discovering Elvis was his seventh cousin. His story will appear on ITV on the 25th anniversary of Elvis' death, on August 16.

Laurence, who even had a trademark Elvis quiff in his youth, said: "I can't honestly believe it.

"After all these years being a massive fan and collecting all his records, it still feels like a dream that I'm actually related to him.

"I've joked in the past that we're related, but I never took it seriously."

The extra "s" in Pressley is the original spelling of Laurence's surname. But the letter was dropped by family members who emigrated to the US.

The news that he has a famous cousin has now made Laurence determined to realise his dream of visiting the King's former home, Gracelands.

But first he has the job of convincing his friends that he has been telling the truth all these years.

He added: "Trying to convince someone that your related to Elvis is pretty difficult."