A WORLD record holding escapologist is set to attempt to escape from Dick Turpin's jail cell - a feat Houdini is said to have refused to attempt.

Weasel Dandaw will attempt to escape the condemned cell at York Castle Prison on October 31, hours before the United Kingdom Escape Artists' first Houdini séance.

Mr Dandaw, who in 2004 set the fastest underwater escape from a 20-metre chain record, will be lead to the condemned cell, which will be searched before he is strip-searched by a medic to ensure he has nothing concealed that could aid his escape.

He will then be locked in restraints of the period, including a pair of Houdini's handcuffs, and chained to a wall of the cell, where Dick Turpin spent the night,before being executed on the nearby Knavesmire in 1739.

At the opposite end of the cell, the door will then be double locked.

Mr Dandaw said: "Although I have done many cell escapes, it has been a few years since I have attempted one and this is going to be the toughest one yet.

"Not only will I have to escape the restraints I am locked in, I will have to find a way of getting out of the cell.

"It has walls that are several feet thick, I guess the floor and ceiling are the same, it has a window that has two sets of bars and a solid oak door which is double locked from the outside."

If he is successful he will become the second to escape from the cell, following UK escape artist David De-Val's feat in 1983. Mr De-Val then claimed he had worked out Houdini's method of escaping from jail cells.

Houdini séances have been held in US every year since the showman died in 1926. As Houdini spent much of his career in in Britain and in 1909 was reportedly challenged to escape from the fortress that was built in 1068, the UKEA wanted to see if they could make contact with him.

Mr Dandaw is seeking sponsorship to raise money for cancer support charity Sophie's appeal.

For details, visit justgiving.com/sophiesappeal