A former Metropolitan police officer finds his 15 years with the force was useful training for his current career - as a professional mind reader.

Alex Crow, 59, of Albert Street, Windsor, said: "I learned a lot of techniques in the police that have come in useful."

Predicting what people might be thinking proved a skill he needed when he was part of the team trying to control the Brixton riots.

He said: "We all thought we were all right with our riot shields in front of us until we realised they were coming at us from behind as well.

"Shields were still new then and we were getting used to them."

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His urge to entertain surfaced through six years spent as a member of the Metropolitan Police Band.

But for 18 years now he has amazed guests at conferences, weddings, exhibitions and on cruise ships by a seeming uncanny ability to have read their thoughts, duplicate unseen drawings he asked them to do and make incredible predictions.

But Alex had to do some thinking of his own when the Covid virus put the country into lockdown and ended all live entertainment.

So he set up his own studio at his house and started offering his services online. A trickle of engagements to do his online show has turned to a flood as companies start to realise that office parties and live corporate conference events are not going to happen this side of Christmas.

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He online show works for small family groups or for 'crowds' of online watchers numbering as many as 300 at organised 'virtual events'.

He said: "What works on line is very different from that works live. You can do close-up things with your hands if people are looking at you on a screen.

"It is very much an interactive show."

Alex is a grandfather of one, married to Trudy with four children and two stepchildren.