A RYEDALE teenager is through to the national finals of the Young Magician of the Year competition.

Matthew Woollons, who lives in Foston, is one of only six magicians chosen to appear in the event which takes place at the Magic Circle’s London headquarters on Sunday.

The 15-year-old, who is a pupil at Malton School, is a member of York Young Magicians and had been performing magic for about 10 years.

“I have been doing magic since the age of four or five, ever since my grandpa made a coin appear from behind my ear,” he said.

“I was the first York Young Magician at the age of nine and have been attending most meetings since.

Matthew won York Young Magician of the Year a few months ago and after that applied for the Magic Circle’s Young Magician of the Year.

“I never expected to get to the final and I can’t wait, as I love performing, especially on stage,” he said.

“Although I have been told it’s a very tough job, with travelling and performing late nights, I would love it to be my career.

“But I do want to get some good qualification as something to fall back on if it doesn’t work out.”

The competition, which was first held in 1961, is open to young people between the ages of 14-18.

First prize is full membership of the Magic Circle at the age of 18, complete with the entrance fee and annual subscription paid for the first four years.