Magician Richard Jones has become the fourth ex-West Hatch High School student to reach the final of ITV's Britain's Got Talent in the last five years.

The 25-year-old, who left the High Road school six years ago, wowed the judges - and television audience - with another magicial performance as he won Tuesday's semi-final and landed himself a place in Saturday's final.

West Hatch alumni are no strangers on the Britain's Got Talent stage.

Four years ago singers Charlotte Jaconelli and Jonathan Antoine were runners-up while Sonny Jay - with the band Loveable Rogues - reached the final in the same year.

Away from his magic, Richard Jones plays the piano and trombone and learned the latter at Redbridge Music School going from brass club to symphony orchestra with the music school playing at many venues including the Royal Albert Hall.

During his time at West Hatch - he lived in Woodford Bridge during his school days - Richard volunteered at the Chigwell Riding Trust and completed his bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

Richard, who still keeps in touch with West Hatch music teacher Mauro Sheehan, left West Hatch at the age of 18 and joined the Army, a year later being posted to the Band of the Parachute Regiment.

In 2014 he was promoted to Lance Corporal and posted to the Band of the Household Cavalry where he learned to ride a horse.

Richard rode in the Trooping of the Colour last year and was at the recent Royal Windsor Horse Show working 16 hours a day.

Because he was working during the London auditions for this year’s Britain’s Got Talent, Richard attended the auditions in Liverpool.

Richard achieved A-level music while at West Hatch but it was at Redbridge Music School that he progressed through the trombone and had private piano lessons.

Richard, who was deputy head boy at West Hatch, won the Sixth Form Service to the School community award in 2009.