A magician was last night preparing to stun an audience by correctly predicting the front page headline of The Argus a week in advance.

Lee Hatt, of Wykeham Terrace, Brighton, wrote out his prediction for yesterday's paper on a scrap of paper from reporter Charles Whitney's notebook and sealed it inside three signed envelopes on Monday last week.

It was stored in The Argus' safe until last night when the magician was opening it on stage in front of 40 fans. Mr Hatt told The Argus the note inside the envelopes reads: "It's no co-incidence the front page in The Argus will read: "Magic night heroes."

His prediction was uncannily close. Yesterday's headline read: "Heroes of a magic night."

Lee's show Totally Mental was performed at The Fringe in Kensington Gardens, Brighton.