ADMIN assistant Richard Seedhouse is hoping to wave a magic wand over a new career -- thanks to the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme.

Richard, 21, has become a whizz at card tricks and is teaching himself magic skills as part of his bid to earn a gold award.

He began learning magic from a friend at the Open Award Centre in Rawtenstall and during the past 12 months he has been building up his act, practising on members of Mencap -- who he worked with during his 12-month community service section of the award.

He will eventually be assessed on his skills by another magician and once he's good enough hopes to entertain in pubs and clubs across East Lancashire.

Richard, of Hoghton Avenue, Bacup, who has worked at CIS in Manchester since October, said: "I practise with people from Mencap in Waterfoot and show them any new tricks.

"I have also done some stuff for family and friends -- some of them like it some don't.

"I have quite a lot of card tricks and have done some escapology with thumb locks.

"They are all close up tricks but I am obviously expanding my routine. There is a shop in Manchester which sells magic tricks and I go down there every so often and buy a couple of things.

"I quite like the small, close up tricks which involve more skill."

Magic is not the first unusual hobby he has had -- as part of his Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award he learned circus skills.

The Gold award includes five sections -- expeditions, physical recreation, a residential course, community service and the skills category for which Richard chose magic. He began the Duke of Edinburgh scheme while a pupil at Bury Grammar School for Boys before moving on to Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar's sixth form.

He said: "The award is a good opportunity to learn things you wouldn't normally get the chance to do.

"I'm not a big showman and I'm not particularly interested in performing on stage and making animals appear or anything like that.

"It's just something I quite fancied doing."

Ten other Duke of Edinburgh award scheme projects that you may not have expected....

Funeral direction and embalming

Taxidermy

Bell ringing

Quilting

Pillow lace making

Furniture restoration

Orchid growing

Glove making

Saddle making

Philography (creating pictures from pins and string)