Only the man's eyes were visible and behind the holes in the tightly fitting silver mask he seemed to be having difficulty breathing.

But, the audience didn't have to worry, too much.The escape attempt was being performed by professional escapologist Daniel Hunt to promote the Northern Magic Circle's Spring Parade in Scarborough in April.

Under a challenge agreed with Chris Deighton, boss of Norton metals firm, Nor-Mal Aluminium, Mr Hunt had to get the aluminium headpiece off in five minutes – or wear it for another 24 hours.

Hundreds of shoppers held their breath as he first freed his hands from a pair of police handcuffs and then went to work blindly on the two padlocks at the side of his head, binding the mask to his face, with a tiny lock pick.

His movements became frantic as he struggled to open the topmost lock by his forehead and he seemed to be tiring. But then he switched to the lower lock and cracked it.

Then two minutes and 45 seconds into the challenge, the second padlock came open and Mr Hunt was free.

Afterwards the entertainer, who has escaped from prisons, straitjackets, and a box about to be attacked by an octopus at Blackpool Sea Life Centre, admitted it had been a close call.

He said: "I am used to escaping from handcuffs so that was not a concern. But when I started picking the top padlock my arms were getting tired and I thought it was not going to open.

"I thought I am still going to be wearing this 24 hours from now so it was a bit of relief when I cracked the lower lock open. It was so claustrophobic in there and I guess I have a big nose because it was really difficult to breath and my ear got caught in the mask when they were putting it on."

Mr Deighton was on hand as Mr Hunt pulled the mask clear, joking: "Did I just win a £500 bet?" Mr Hunt performed the stunt in front of Timpson's, Westborough, which supplied the two padlocks.

Manager Tony Pilsworth said he was surprised, adding: "They are secure padlocks, the best ones we stock in the shop. There is no way any normal person should be able to get out of them."