An award-winning magician said his bag of tricks had done a disappearing act of its own, putting his livelihood at risk.

Matthew Le Mottee, from Cambridge, said he was preparing to perform in the city at about 14:40 BST on Saturday, when his brown leather bag was taken from outside a hotel.

He said he reported the theft to the police, spent an hour sifting through nearby bins, and had since scoured hedges in the area, but has yet to be reunited with the bag.

"I've got clients who are looking forward to seeing me and I have no props at the moment," the magician told Chris Mann on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

He said he had been preparing to perform at the Clayton Hotel, close to the city's railway station, when the bag was taken.

He urged anyone with information about the bag's whereabouts to contact Cambridgeshire Police, which confirmed it had received a report of theft.

"The suspect is described as wearing blue jeans, black hoodie, pink and cream scarf and carrying a backpack," a force spokesperson added.

The bag contained "prized possessions" from previous high-profile performances such as at last year's World Championship of Magic, he continued.

"The only things that were probably of use [to anyone else] in there were some cufflinks, a Zippo lighter and maybe some 10 pence pieces."

Other magicians had offered to loan him props so he could continue performing, he added.

Le Mottee was named Close-up Magician of the Year by the Magic Circle in 2017.

Speaking to the BBC at the time, he said it was a "highlight" of his career.

Do you have a story suggestion for Cambridgeshire? Contact us below.

Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.