AN Accrington pub which has seen several new faces behind the bar in recent months has now got a permanent licensee -- but customers still won't believe their eyes.

For Andrew Alexander, new landlord at The Kings, Lee Street, is a trained magician who has several other tricks up his sleeve than making his customers' money disappear.

Andrew, 25, formerly of Waterfoot, has been in the trade for seven years but also spent time at a Great Yarmouth holiday camp where he learned from the resident magician.

Now that he is in the Kings full time he has little chance to put on proper shows or do children's parties but Andrew is still keeping in practice bemusing the drinkers with close-up tricks using cards and coins.

He said: "I'm just doing it for a laugh now but have done it professionally before. This is more of a proper drinkers pub than a place for entertainment though so I don't think it'll catch on but this is definitely my kind of pub."