A CLAIRVOYANT has been banned from claiming she could cure everything from witchcraft to depression . . . because she can't prove it.

Sister Charlotte, a successful crystal ball, tarot card and palm reader from Chorlton, Manchester, claimed to be able to solve problems in love, marriage, business, exams and even immigration.

The Advertising Standards Authority challenged her to prove it. When she couldn't, it ordered her to tone down her extravagant ads.

The ruling followed a single complaint from a man who found a leaflet promoting the psychic's '100 per cent success rate'.

Sister Charlotte, 33, said her technique - which aim to remove 'negative energies' and replace them with positive ones - can change lives.

Problems

She said: "A man phoned out of the blue asking how I can claim to do all this. But I don't claim to cure cancer or solve devastating marriage problems.

"I speak to my clients. They tell me I am effective at removing negative energies and relieving their physical, emotional and spiritual problems.

"I am 100 per cent successful with people who come to see me. If someone does not think the treatment works, I give them a refund. Some people don't understand."

The leaflet said: "Sister Charlotte can do many great things for you! Remember, no matter how big you think your problems are, they are not impossible to solve."

The Advertising Standards Agency demanded evidence of Sister Charlotte's abilities.

They said: "We considered claims that marketers could successfully solve all problems, break curses, banish evil spirits, improve the health, wealth, love life, happiness or other circumstances of readers should be avoided because they were likely to be impossible to prove. Sister Charlotte's claims were unsubstantiated and likely to mislead."

The ASA has received 174 complaints about 171 psychics' ads over the past two years. A spokesman said cracking down on the small number was important to avoid misleading the public.