A PLYMOUTH magician with a few tricks up his sleeve has conjured up a winning performance.

Malcolm Norton, right, magician and local businessman, has won the Close Up Magician of the Year competition. Mr Norton, proprietor of Cohen's Magic and Joke Shop, has recently become a member of The Riveria Circle of Magicians, based in Torbay.

He said: "I am quite proud of this. It's not unusual for me to win competitions because I'm quite good.

"This club has only been around a couple of years. I joined as a full member a few months ago.

"It's a very unusual competition. I was up against five other magicians who do it for a living.

"I did a 12-minute performance of my better material. One particular trick is where I borrow a ring and it appears and disappears on my key chain."

The event is run by the Magic Society and Mr Norton is now the proud owner of a "huge trophy" for the next year. Mr Norton bought Cohen's Magic and Joke Shop 14 years ago. It has been open for the past 44 years and is situated in Western Approach in Plymouth.