A BIDEFORD escapologist broke out of nine sets of handcuffs on national TV to claim a world record.

Merlin Cadogan, from Northam, used a hair grip type pin to undo the six sets of handcuffs on his arms and the three on his legs.

The 37-year-old was cheered on by Denise van Outen and millions of viewers when he smashed the existing record on ITV's Magic Number show on Saturday evening.

The Barnstaple-born escapologist said: "It was awesome, really amazing. I did the legs first and then as I got to the last lock on the handcuffs on my arms I had about five seconds to go and at the first go I couldn't undo it, I thought I had blown it but I managed it with a second to go. It was something else, everyone was cheering, it was just an awesome experience."

For his next get-free-quick stunt Merlin plans to break the record for escaping from handcuffs underwater.

He will make the attempt on Bideford Quay inside a see through water tank holding two tonnes of water.

He said: "It will be part of the entertainment in the build up to the Christmas light switch on.

"It will be very testing, not only will I have to concentrate on undoing five sets of handcuffs I will have to concentrate on holding my breath and not running out of air before I am finished."