More than 250 guests tucked into lobster and fairy-cakes before jiving the night away to a 1940s-style swing band.

Sir Paul McCartney, in white tie and tails, took to the dancefloor with a succession of women and gave every impression of having the time of his life.

• Gallery: Elton John's fancy dress birthday bash

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East meets West: Sir Elton John as a Russian general and his partner David Furnish as a U.S. captain

A Pearly King and Queen gave all-comers a traditional East End welcome.

In other words, Sir Elton John was giving one of his more low-key soirees.

The 1940s glamour-themed fancy dress party event, to mark the singer's 60th birthday, was held at Shoreditch Town Hall in East London. It was co-hosted by his friend, artist Sam Taylor-Wood, who was celebrating her 40th.

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The glamour set: Natalie Imbruglia (far left); Hugh Grant (centre) and Kate Moss (right)

Guests included Kate Moss, Hugh Grant, the Osbournes, Lulu, Paul O'Grady, Stella McCartney and, no doubt keen to be distracted from his current divorce battle, her father.

Sir Paul, 64, flung a series of dance partners around with apparent abandon.

A fellow reveller said: "With the swing band playing, he hardly stepped off the dancefloor all night.

"He was never alone and had different women clamouring to dance with him. He was in great spirits and it all added up to a fantastic evening.

"Elton was in his element and made a speech thanking everyone for coming. But for him this was a really low-key, intimate affair. He is having his proper party in New York later this month so this was really just a warm-up."

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Dressing the part: Sir Paul McCartney (far right) and daughter Stella (centre); and supermodel Elle MacPherson

Guests were given cocktails on arrival, followed by chicken, lobster, chicken and the miniature fairy cakes printed with the initials of the two party hosts.

Sir Elton wore a Russian military uniform while his partner David Furnish adopted a U.S. Marine captain's outfit. By his normal standards, this amounted to astonishing restraint on Sir Elton's part.

At his 50th he donned a £50,000 Louis XIV-style outfit with silver boots, feather boa and huge curly wig topped with a padded silver galleon.

The outfit was so enormous he had to travel to his party in the back of a removals van fitted specially with a throne for him.

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Battle attire meets gangster chic: Paul O'Grady (far left); Sting with wife Trudie Styler; and Daniel Craig (right)

At Tuesday night's bash Miss Taylor-Wood - who has helped raise funds for Sir Elton's Aids charity - looked as if she had stepped straight from the set of a 1940s film noir with an elegant floor-length white gown, black gloves and immaculate coiffure.

Stella McCartney topped a skimpy silk dress with an Army overcoat and rakish cap, model Elle Macpherson wore a green silk gown, while actresses Thandie Newton and actress Rosamund Pike sparkled respectively in black Marchesa dress and red halter-neck creation.

Janet Street-Porter turned up in a neon pink dress with enormous matching hat while Sting, arriving with his wife Trudie Styler, competed with James Bond actor Daniel Craig for the most stylish ensemble with a pinstriped gangster suit.

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Elton with artist and friend Sam Taylor-Wood, partner David, and a pearly king and queen!

Hugh Grant refused to dress up and turned up in a black tie.

His former girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley - who is best friends with Sir Elton - was otherwise engaged on honeymoon with Arun Nayar.

The 140-year-old venue came as something of a surprise to those used to Sir Elton's more extravagant parties.

He hosts an annual White Tie and Tiara ball at his Windsor mansion while, for Mr Furnish's 40th birthday five years ago, he threw a lavish bash at the Hotel Cipriani in Venice.

Shoreditch town hall was renovated two years ago with refurbishments worth £3.5 million and has since been open for hire for weddings, fundraisers and bar mitzvahs.

But a source said: "Sam is very stylish and up-to-the-minute while Shoreditch is the trendiest part of London.

"The venue would have been totally her idea while Sir Elton brought in the glamorous element. It was a fabulous evening."

The revels will continue when Sir Elton performs in a two-hour concert in New York's Madison Square Gardens on his birthday proper on March 25.