Croppie makes it across pond

Mr Williams, 32, who lives at Bishops Cannings, near Devizes, was recently at an event called Starwood in Sherman, New York state, to speak on the art of crop circle making .

Mr Williams, the only person in Britain to be convicted of criminal damage for making a crop circle, said: "The thing is huge and is by far the biggest and most professional event dealing with magic, the paranormal and pagan things I have ever seen.

"I also met with one of the original LSD pranksters, Paul Krassner, who was speaking about his experiences while under the influence of magic mushroom.

"He was very pleased to know that people make crop circles. He considered me a prankster, which I considered a great honour.

"However, I was quick to point out to Mr Krassner that, while humans make most of the circles out there, that I certainly consider it a serious endeavour of pagan, magical exploration."

Mr Krassner was a co-founder of the Youth International Party in the 1960s with fellow hell-raisers Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin. The "Yippies" may be remembered for hijacking the David Frost show.

Although now 70, Mr Krassner is still hell-raising and appears as a stand-up satirist at many clubs in southern California where he lives.

Mr Williams said: "If you know anything about the merry pranksters you will understand why I thought it was very cool to be termed a prankster by one of the original dudes."

Mr Williams is now helping BBC Radio Wiltshire with a crop circle competition, in which entrants have to design a crop formation using grass seeds.

The winner's design will be created in a field and they will be flown in a helicopter to see it from the air.

Mr Williams says he now only creates crop formations by appointment and with the express permission of the farmer.

He said: "I haven't made any mistakes doing public demos like this so far, but one does stick one's head on the chopping block by showing one's skills like this."