STAGE hypnotist Mark Storey has applied to Burnley Council for permission to appear at the Old Red Lion pub.

The application will be considered by members of the licensing sub-committee tomorrow.

The council has no firm policy on stage hypnotism; each application is considered on its merits.

Mark has appeared at pubs in the Pendle area, where public entertainment licences for hypnotism acts were refused until two years ago. The ban was lifted to allow a television hypnotist to appear at Colne Municipal Hall.

Mark, of Colne, is asking for permission to appear the town centre pub in Burnley on August 23.

In a letter to the council he says that at the start of the show a statement will be made to the audience explaining hypnosis and the types of people who should not volunteer.

Hypnosis will be through means of suggestion only, with no noxious substances used.

Volunteers could be asked to experience temperature changes, take part in an ice-cream-licking contest, act like Madonna, Tina Turner or Michael Jackson, to act like a secret agent, believe they have x-ray glasses or to act as members of the "Chinese laughter police."