PRETTY Joanna Cooke knows the secret of success after giving up a steady job to become an illusionist's assistant.

It was a case of now you see her, now you don't when she left Haley's garden centre in Bromley Cross, for a life on the stage.

And now Joanna, 21, of Seaford Road, Harwood, assists master illusionist Guy Barrett as he amazes audiences with his act.

Although the pair have only been working together for a few months they have just won an international competition.

Guy and Joanna took first prize in the International Brotherhood of Magicians competition held last Thursday in Eastbourne. They even picked up a special award for most entertaining act.

Joanna, a former catwalk model, revealed that she got into show business by chance after her uncle displayed her photograph in a magic show in Blackpool.

She explained: "Guy saw my photograph and approached me. He then asked me to become his assistant.

"It's hard work, but great fun and when I tell people what my job is, they don't believe me!"

Joanna now spends her time being sawn in half and disappearing from cabinets.

She added: "It's all down to timing. If I'm asked how an illusion is done, I just say 'can you keep a secret?' I then say 'so can I!"

Joanna does not regret her career move. She said: "It's very glamorous and I love the applause.

"Our ultimate ambition is to get to Las Vegas!"

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.