A former West Hatch High School student has said winning Britain’s Got Talent is “unbelievable”.

Soldier and magician Richard Jones, 25, won in the grand final of the ITV contest show on Saturday night (May 28).

Lance corporal Jones, who performed a patriotic magic trick telling the story of veteran and prisoner of war Fergus Anckorn, left West Hatch in Chigwell High Road six years ago to pursue his army career.

Joining at 18, he was posted to the band of the Parachute Regiment, and later to the band of the Household Cavalry.

Speaking to presenters Ant and Dec after his win, he said it was an “incredible feeling” and thanked everyone at the show and at home.

With his winning trick, he used cards to present the story of Mr Anckorn, whose love of magic helped him survive life in a prisoner of war camp during the Second World War.

After his illusion, involving burning and tearing a card before revealing it intact, he introduced Mr Anckorn on stage.

The 97-year-old Magic Circle member was flanked by lance corporal Jones’ band.

Speaking to the Press Association after his win, he said he hoped to pursue his magic as well as his army career.

He said: “The army nowadays is very flexible.

“I’m aware that there’s a rugby player, for example, who plays full-time for a professional rugby team, but he’s also part of the army as well, and they give him a lot of time to pursue that.”

He added: “I’m expecting a talk with the army at some point, just to see if they’re happy for me to keep going the way I am, because I love my job.”

While at West Hatch, where he was deputy head boy, he was best known for his music.

Living in Woodford Bridge at the time, he played piano and learned trombone at Redbridge Music School, playing at many venues including the Royal Albert Hall.

West Hatch music teacher Mauro Sheehan said: “Massive congratulations to Richard Jones, one of the nicest people I've ever had the pleasure of teaching and playing piano for.

“A brilliant act, lovely guy.”

Richard is the fourth ex-West Hatch pupil to reach the final of Britain's Got Talent in the last five years.

Singers Charlotte Jaconelli and Jonathan Antoine were runners-up in 2012 while Sonny Jay - with the band Loveable Rogues - was also in the final in the same year.