Blaine fails to disappear in Soho

Master of magic David Blaine failed to pull the wool over photographers' eyes in London last night.

The American magician, better known for freezing himself and levitating, found that he couldn't do a disappearing trick after a date with actress Daryl Hannah in Soho.

First they tried to fox photographers by arriving separately at the Ivy restaurant, with Blaine, 29, turning up at 8.30, and Hannah, 41, at nine.

Then, after dinner, the couple made a bizarre attempt to conceal the fact that they were staying at the same west London hotel. They left through the rear kitchen door and raced across the street to a Mercedes. The car was chased across London to a five-star hotel where they have been staying for three days.

When they arrived, they sat arguing before Hannah leapt out and Blaine tried to shake off photographers by instructing his driver to circle the block five times.

His next test as a magician was said to be planned for London. He has talked of being wrapped in iron chains and dropped into the Thames near Canary Wharf.