A GREENOCK mystic man has made a new prediction about the exact date of the Scotland independence referendum.

John Davidson is making the bold forecast after he met First Minister Alex Salmond in Greenock during campaigning for last year's Inverclyde by-election.

Mr Salmond this week revealed that the referendum will take place 'some time in autumn 2014' - and John believes that 21 August will be the exact date.

John describes himself as a 'cartomancer' - someone who uses playing, Tarot and number cards to make predictions.

He previously forecast correctly how many seats each party would get in the first Scottish Parliament.

The Tele reported last June that John predicted the independence referendum would be held on 24 June 2014 - but he now says he had not taken into account the fact that the Commonwealth Games will be in Glasgow that summer, running from 23 July to 3 August.

John, who is in favour of independence, said: "I'm surprised Mr Salmond has allowed himself to be pushed into giving out the approximate date so early.

"I think he will want a date that will capitalise on the 'feel-good' factor that could be created in Scotland by holding the Commonwealth Games here."

The cartomancer's 24 June prediction had been posted on the internet in a YouTube video before he met Mr Salmond. The video has had 5,000 'hits' from people around the world including Canada, America and Australia.

John said: "That date was reinforced in my mind by the first thing Alex Salmond said to me when I met him. He said that would be the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn.

"He is a keen historian and that date was obviously important to him, but he must have felt there would be too much going on in the run-up to the games - as well as the fact that people might be on holiday." Mr Salmond played his cards close to his chest last year when the Tele quizzed him on the referendum forecast.

The First Minister said back then: "John will just have to wait and see if his referendum prediction comes true."

The cartomancer today declined to predict the outcome of the referendum.

He said: "I don't want to influence the result."