A magician from Ashford has been accepted into The Magic Circle – the elite group of talented magicians.

Father-of-two Richard Harrington, 39, was voted in by his peers for membership of the premium society which only has around 1,500 members.

Mr Harrington, from Willesborough, began the membership application in April and finally found out he had been accepted last week after waiting anxiously for the result.

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He said: “I am over the moon. I’m ecstatic!”

Mr Harrington had to go through a series of interviews, demonstrating his magic tricks at the Circle’s headquarters in London.

He said: “It’s an accolade I’m so pleased I’ve got.

“It’s the fact that other magicians voted for me to join The Magic Circle.

“It’s nice to be accepted. Not anyone can join. You have to have high standards of magic.

“It’s something that I keep for life now.

“Being a member, people know they’ve hired a magician who’s top standard.”

On Facebook, he thanked his friends Peter Nardi and Dave Loosley for helping him with his routine, saying: “Without you both, this may not have been possible.”

The membership allows him to practise his magic with other Magic Circle members from around the world.