Ringo Starr held a "peace and love" impromptu gathering on a rainy Chicago pavement to mark his 68th birthday.

The former Beatle said: "What could be wrong? Peace and love - What a great birthday gift."

The event drew around 300 people on both sides of a street outside the Hard Rock Hotel in the MidWest city.

Fans surrounded the voice of Thomas The Tank Engine as he waited for the clock to strike noon.

Then he flashed peace signs with both hands in the air and yelled, "12 o'clock - peace and love!"

The crowd then sang "Happy Birthday" to Starr, who passed out white-iced cupcakes with his wife Barbara Bach.

Starr and his band are currently on a summer-long tour in the US.

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