A CLASS of naughty five-year-olds and some visiting Martians shared the stage with Elvis Presley, Mick Jagger and Madonna -- and none of them knew a thing about it.

Or at least, they didn't know until TV hypnotist Paul McKenna snapped them out of their hypnosis at the end of a two-hour show that was entrancing in more ways than one. About 300 fans and sceptics alike were in the audience at Colne Municipal Hall to watch the controversial performance, which only got the go-ahead from councillors a fortnight ago after a four-year ban on public stage hypnotism in Pendle.

McKenna kept to a strict set of Home Office guidelines.

No-one pregnant, drunk, mentally ill or -- in a joking reference to a recent high profile court case -- likely to sue, was allowed under his control.

And he threw a spell over the appreciative audience who were kept amused from start to finish.

A group of 14 volunteers were brought on stage and told to perform a variety of acts from chatting up a broom to directing a blockbuster film with the audience as extras. The naughty class, aliens and famous pop stars added to the fun.

Mark Storey, of Colne, a self-taught hypnotherapist, was one of the first volunteers to drop out after he came round from his trance.

Others like Steve Heyes stayed on stage to the end and said afterwards: "It was brilliant, the best time I've had for a long time."

Colleagues Megan Holmes, Tina Robinson and Angela Baker, who all work at Calderglen Home for the Elderly, Colne, said it was the first time they had been to a McKenna show although they had seen him on TV.

"I just came out of curiosity more than anything," admitted Megan.

"I wouldn't go under hypnosis but I wanted to see Paul McKenna on stage."

McKenna, who had never appeared at Colne before, told fans: "I'd like to come back in the near future."

Pendle Council's change of heart means he will be able to.

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