IT may have been on the cards but it is still an impressive trick.

A former insurance salesman from Kidderminster has been elected president of the British Magic Circle - just like that.

Andy Kirk, 36, is the youngest-ever head - in waiting - of the society, which at 93 years of age, is the UK's oldest, pre-dating the better-known and largely London-based Magic Circle. Andy Kirk, new president of British Magic Society.

Mr Kirk, who has had a passion for prestidigitation since he was a waist-high to Paul Daniels and knee-high to Tommy Cooper, said: "It's a great honour and I'm really chuffed.

" There's a lot of responsibility and I want to make the society as good as possible during my 12 months in office and raise its profile."

The society, which is based in Birmingham, currently numbers about 140 members drawn mainly from in and around the West Midlands and Worcestershire.

Honorary vice-presidents include Paul Daniels and fellow conjuror Ali Bongo and the society attracts visiting lecturers from around the world.

Mr Kirk, who performs his act under the name Andy's Magic, was born in Bewdley and was educated at Bewdley High School and later Lacon Childe School.

He performed card, coin and rope tricks from an early age but worked as an insurance salesman before turning professional 10 years ago.

He said: "I joined this other insurance firm paying commission only and it just didn't work out so I left and was unemployed.

"I thought this is the time to try doing magic full-time and took it from there.

"It was hard at the beginning; bits of work here and there but it's going well now.

"I do children's parties, village halls, corporate functions, that kind of thing.

"Doing magic as my job is just brilliant."