Her mum Eva was a top star-gazer in the sixties with celebrity clients including The Beatles, Michael Caine and Joan Collins.

And before that Claire's grandmother Eve was a palmist and medium who established the family name reading for royalty.

"I've always had a sixth sense and just assumed everyone was clairvoyant," says Claire, 36.

"It was only when I went to school that I realised I was a bit of a novelty.

"My uncle taught me to read lines on the hand when I was six and my mother taught me to trust my instincts.

"My mother was pure-bred Romany and famous in the sixties and seventies when she read the palms of some of the top celebrities.

Footsteps

"She was also the first ever astrologer for Cosmopolitan magazine.

"It never crossed my mind that I wouldn't be able to follow in her footsteps."

The men in the Petulengro family traditionally worked as blacksmiths. The name itself means 'man of horses' in Romany.

The women would bring in money by giving readings in astrology and practising the art of divination.

"Many years ago the family split into five sections and went to different seaside resorts to work as clairvoyants," says Claire.

"When the whole family gets back together there are hundreds of us."