Magician! ...during a fast and furious routine in which playing cards disappear, scarves change colour and rabbits jump out of hats, he never stops entertaining with his humorous banter.

LINDA HARRISON INTERVIEWS LYNN THOMAS - THE GREAT VELCRO

Magical moments are amazing shoppers as they buy their fruit and veg.


Many may be a little surprised to discover magician The Great Velcro waving his magic wand over a rabbit in a hat as they browse round the stalls at market.


But the magician, real name Lynn Thomas, has returned to the age-old ways of performing in the street on market day to sell his tricks.


Lynn, who has appeared on TV with Paul Daniels, has rented a quiet corner at the Open Market in Brighton and surrounded himself with his collection of eccentric tricks and treats.


These include his white rabbit Bridget, who sits in her top hat and munches through leaves donated by the owners of the nearby vegetable stall.


Lynn, who has been a magician for more than 20 years, believes he owns the only magic stall in Brighton.


He says: "I chose the name because I wanted something that sticks."


"I have a book of old posters and all the magicians have over-the-top names so I'm just following the tradition."


Lynn encourages customers to sit with a cup of coffee while watching him perform his tricks.


During a fast and furious routine in which playing cards disappear, scarves change colour and rabbits jump out of hats, he never stops entertaining with his humorous banter.


Afterwards customers can pay to discover the secret of how to perform a little magic themselves.


Lynn, of Kemp Town, Brighton, said: "It is a cult stall and I get regular customers, usually children. This type of job keeps me young and Bridget and I get to eats lots of fresh fruit and veg."


Before turning his hand to magic, Lynn was a sailor in the Merchant Navy. After travelling the world for 20 years, he returned to his hometown of Brighton to learn a trade.


Lynn, who is half-Welsh, started inventing tricks and performing on the Sussex circuit and in the Eighties won the International Brotherhood of Magicians competition.


He said: "I was the flavour of the month in magic circles."


Paul Daniels heard about his talents and bought one of his tricks, twice inviting Lynn to perform on his TV show.


Lynn has shown his magic in Zimbabwe, Japan, and Europe and performs regularly in Sussex, including at Komedia and Concorde 2 in Brighton.


Lynn said: "Magic can be anything, from cheap and cheerful in the Open Market to the glitz of David Copperfield.


"I like the over-the-top kind of performer and I think there's definitely a place for this kind of business among the stalls.


"Everyone likes to have a bit of mystery in their lives.

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