THE likes of David Blaine and Paul Daniels had better watch their backs as there could soon be rivalled by a new whizz-kid magician.

Fifteen-year-old Ollie Mealing, from Colwall, is determined to carve out a career as a top magician.

Ollie, who performs as The Bizarre Ollie Mealing, has been practising magic for two years.

His biggest break to date came when he was invited to perform for the stars backstage at The Big Chill festival, in Eastnor.

"It was a great opportunity for me and everyone seemed to love what I was doing," said Ollie.

"I wasn't really nervous about performing for the stars because this is what I do and I really enjoy doing it."

Ollie's specialty is card tricks, although he also dabbles in coin tricks and even a spot of mind-reading. He may already be a familiar face to some readers, as he regularly entertains diners at various Malvern restaurants, including Priors Croft and Cafe Zam Zam.

He was given his first magic set for Christmas, aged five. Although he could not understand the instructions at that point, he remembers looking on amazed as his dad performed the tricks for him.

After sitting his GCSEs at John Masefield High School in Ledbury next summer Ollie plans to pursue a career in magic.

"I've got absolutely no doubt that this is what I want to do. I'm so determined to make it, if I'm not a magician I really don't know what I'll be," he said. "You get to meet different people every night and it is always exciting and fun."

Ollie certainly has determination on his side. Once, after hearing self-confessed magic fan Ken Dodd was appearing at Malvern Theatres, he waited outside the stage door hoping to get a chance to show off his skills.

"In the end, I spent half an hour showing him what I could do," he said.

"He was pretty impressed and even took the time to write me a personal letter saying as much."

Ollie is presently practising hard before appearing at the Magic Circle in London in November.