The first-ever London Festival of Close-Up Magic, which gets underway tomorrow, is the brainchld of a St Albans resident.

Magician Tony Middleton, known as Sonic, who believes he is probably the only full-time professional magician in the city where he has lived for the past seven years, has set up the festival which starts tomorrow (22) and runs until Sunday, July 31.

Entitled Magic & Mixology, it is being launched at the Vaults, Waterloo, and will continue with a series of performances by top magicians at the Grand Royale Hotel, Hyde Park.

Among the magicians taking part is Brendan Rodrigues, Magic Circle Close-Up Magician of the Year and Max Somerset, winner of the Magic Circle’s Carlton Comedy Award.

Tony, who has featured on TV’s Penn & Teller and performed for the likes of Sir Roger Moore, Prunella Scales and James Martin, said: “I love the spectacle of a big show. I love what Dynamo and The Illusionists do but there’s nothning quite as amazing as seeing something utterly impossible happen right up close, right in front of your eyes.

“I’m delighted with the programme we’ve put together - we’re lucky enough to have attracted some world-class performers.”