A WOMAN in a bridal gown ended up floating on air when a magician popped into a York hotel.

Jon Gordon, of Leeds-based Occasional Magic, gave the levitation treatment to Helen Clark, a receptionist at the Ramada Jarvis hotel, on the A19 near Skelton.

It was all in aid of the hotel's wedding fair, to be held on Sunday.

Julie Swan, wedding co-ordinator at the hotel, said she had been "speechless" when she saw the levitation.

She said: "By rights she should have flopped to the ground. I had been very sceptical - but it was fantastic."

Mr Gordon will have a stall at the fair, along with bridal specialists Sandra's, of Malton, and other local wedding suppliers.

The hotel aims to raise £3,000 from the event, to be split between six charities: the NSPCC, Cancer Research UK, the RSPCA, Age Concern, Diabetes UK and Hospitality Action.

The fair is being held from 10.30am to 3.30pm on March 28.

Updated: 09:55 Monday, March 22, 2004