A former page three model brought a taste of celebrity to Watford as she tried out a new craze sweeping the country.

Garra-Rufa fish, imported from Turkey, swim around tanks filled with cool water, waiting to nibble away at dead and damaged skin.

Adopted by salons across the country, the treatment also gained notoriety after appearing on television show The Only Way is Essex.

Mrs Johnson, the first model to appear topless in the Daily Mirror, decided to opt for the unusual treatment on Thursday afternoon at Eclipse salon.

And despite it being her first time, the former singer of Blonde on Blonde said she was hooked.

Plunging her naked feet into the tanks, she said: “I’m a virgin at this, but it’s absolutely wonderful, it’s like having champagne bubbles under your feet.”

As the fish, measuring a couple of centimetres long, nibble away at dead and damaged skin, they clean and heal the area using naturally-produced enzyme Diathanol.

Lynn Viccars, who provides the service for the salon, added: “Despite what some people assume, they are not related to piranhas - they do not have teeth.

“Some people wonder if it’s cruel, but the fish absolutely love it.”