"JAMES Randi owes me a million dollars," Teesside-born psychic Gary Fowler says with conviction.

American sceptic Randi has agreed to part with his hard-earned cash if anyone can prove that psychic powers really exist.

And, after successfully predicting the winner of Celebrity Big Brother, Mark Owen, before the line-up of the show was even announced, Mr Fowler believes he has done just that.

He delivered his prediction to The Northern Echo offices two weeks ago and the envelope containing the prediction was kept in a locked safe in our offices, untouched, until the winner was announced.

Northern Echo features editor Nick Morrison, who opened the envelope, said: "When he gave me the envelope, he was certain it was right. There was never any doubt in his mind.

"I am very sceptical of these things and I have to say I was pretty surprised when he was proved correct."

Mr Fowler had a childhood reminiscent of hit film Sixth Sense, telling his mother from an early age that he "saw dead people".

He said: "At five, I used to wake up in the middle of the night and see figures of spirits. I thought it was normal until my mother didn't seem to know what I was talking about. It began to frighten me.

Mr Fowler said he communicates with spirits on the other side, who tell him about the future, which is how he predicted the Big Brother winner.

"I have guides that work with me," he said. "They look after me. There is White Feather, a North American Indian, and Percy, a good friend of mine who died of cancer."

But the psychic, who also does stage shows and attempts to help people overcome grief by connecting them with their loved ones in the spirit world, says he has a deeper purpose to his work.

"It's all about faith," he said. "We are living in dark times and I am trying to give some hope to people."

Mr Fowler claims he knows about huge events that will unfold within the next year, and he says he has information for world leaders.

"Some people will laugh at me, some will take me seriously, but at the end of the day I will be right," he said. "But I'm not allowed to disclose them, because it would unsettle society.

"I see the future like a main road with lots of side roads running off. Sometimes, we make a mistake and go down a side road, only to find a No Entry sign. But we always end up back on the main road."

Mr Fowler said he loves the challenge of a sceptic.

"If I didn't have sceptical people, there wouldn't be anything to do - I wouldn't have anything more to prove."