A nationally renowned magician will be wowing the crowds in Market Drayton tonight in a special show in the town.

Paul Daniels is performing at the Festival Drayton Centre in front of nearly 200 people in a sell-out show.

The magician, who has already performed at the venue once is appearing again to showcase some of his finest tricks and illusions.

Staff at the Festival Drayton Centre, which is run mostly by volunteers as a community facility said they were delighted to have such a big celebrity performing at the centre and putting Market Drayton on the map.

Geoff Vernon, chairman of the Festival Drayton Centre said almost 200 tickets for the show had been sold, and expected the show tonight to be a huge success. He said attracting performers like Paul Daniels to the Festival Drayton Centre was part of a drive to bring better entertainment to people in their own area.

“It’s a sell out, we’ve sold almost 200 tickets and filled our theatre,” he said.

“He came two years ago and said that he liked the place so much, everything about it, the fact it’s community owned, and an intimate theatre situation, which he, as a close-up magician loves, and that he would come back any time, and we are delighted to have included him in our programme of entertainment.

“It’s put Market Drayton on the map, and we are attempting to bring the very best of entertainment to the community.”