A man hypnotised by magic ever since he got his first conjuring set as a seven-year-old, has been invited to compere the centenary celebrations of the Magic Circle.

Peter Greenwood, from Keighley, will front the prestigious four-day event at The Centre for the Magic Arts in London.

Peter, 62, who works as a professional magician and is a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, will act as compere twice a day - matinee and evening - on December 27, 28, 29 and 30.

The Magic Circle's hall of fame includes such great names in magic as David Nixon, Paul Daniels and the great late comic conjurer, Tommy Cooper.

"I think it's a great privilege and I'm looking forward to it," said Peter.

"I gather I'm to appear on stage as if by magic. I'm not sure how they intend to do it - by a puff of smoke or from a tank of water. But it should be good fun.

"It will be nice as well to appear in the same theatre at the same time for a number of days. I usually work one-night stands."

He became hooked on magic as a seven-year-old after he was invited to a show at Ingrow Sunday School, Keighley.

He was also taken to see one of the most famous magicians of the 1950s, The Great Levente, when he appeared at the old Keighley Hipperdrome.

"I remember it to this day - I was absolutely in awe of the man," said Peter.

By then he had been bought a box of tricks by his parents and from then on, even during his 30 years as a painter and decorator, his first love has been magic.

"I remember my first engagement. I was 15 and it was at Guardhouse community centre. The man pointed to a big oak tree in the grounds and said if I failed I'd be strung up on its branches.

"I was paid ten shillings and did only a few minutes but it must have been OK because I'm still here." said Peter whose act today - mostly at children's parties - lasts an hour.

The former president of Bradford Magic Circle credits his stage skills to performances as an amateur actor with Keighley Playhouse.

Among his collection of magician's memorabilia is a rare copy of a book written by the great escapologist Harry Houdini, who appeared in Bradford in 1908.

The book, given to him by a fellow magician from Keighley, the late Frank Barker, had originally been presented to the editor of the Bradford Argus in 1908.