STARGAZER Jonathan Cainer's future looks bright after he jumped ship as The Express's resident astrologer to join The Mirror.

And his increased career certainty means he can concentrate on expanding his Horoscopes Shop in Stonegate, York - and opening a museum of the supernatural there.

Mr Cainer, who lives near Easingwold, handed in his resignation at The Express in support of editor Rosie Boycott, who is expected to leave after the title was taken over by publisher Richard Desmond.

He said: "My resignation is down to the situation with Rosie. It is with great regret because I loved the paper under Rosie, but I joined it in support of her and, if she is going, then so am I.

"Now that I am free from the latest deliberations of my career, I can plough my time into developing the museum. It will certainly be open in 2002, if not this year."

The museum, which Mr Cainer will open in partnership with paranormalist Uri Geller, has already been given planning permission by City of York Council.

It will include exhibitions of the supernatural, including a display of Kirlean Photography, a system which, it is claimed, shows the body's psychic auras in colour.

Mr Cainer's huge popularity as an astrologer is demonstrated by his being credited with raising Express sales by five per cent.

He said: "That is probably an underestimate, but whether I do the same at The Mirror I can't tell at the moment."