Costly gifts at summit Browns off aid workers; THE SILLY BIT.

Byline: JASON BEATTIE

SILVIO Berlusconi is acting like Hugh Hefner by lavishing Playboy-style party gifts on world leaders at the G8 summit.

The Italian PM has arranged for heads of state including Gordon Brown, Barack Obama and Nicolas Sarkozy to get Belstaff biker jackets - made famous by Steve McQueen in The Great Escape - and monogrammed bathrobes.

The leaders of the US, Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Canada and Russia will also receive designer pyjamas, monogrammed sheets and fine towels.

Aid workers are furious at the extravagance of the summit being held in L'Aquila, where April's earthquake killed 300 and left thousands homeless.

And Mr Berlusconi is also slashing money Italy gives to poor countries.

Simon Wright of Save The Children said: "Seeing money lavished on world leaders while most of the world struggles should put all of us off our food and luxury goods."

Mr Berlusconi - reeling from alleged sex scandals - has also upset G8 wives by picking an ex-topless model to greet them.

Carla Bruni Sarkozy is apparently boycotting events over Mara Carfagna, Italy's equalities minister.

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FREE We put Brown in jacket