The wonders of the big top have returned to Rochford for Easter - without an animal in sight.
The Mongolian State Circus performs entirely with human acts, and organiser Martin Lacey said the show promises something different for visitors.
He said: "We negotiated with the Mongolian Embassy for many years to get the circus to visit England.
"Their visit to Rochford is the start of a three year tour of the British Isles.
"This is a bit of a coup because the only place you will see it is in Rochford this Easter."
Mr Lacey said the circus, which opened last night, was a "traditional circus, but done the Mongolian Way."
The circus will feature hand balancers, contortionists, clowns, acrobats and trapeze artists among a host of other attractions.
The circus runs from now until Sunday April 11. Weekday shows start at 5pm and 7.30pm, and shows for Saturday, Easter Sunday, and Bank Holiday Monday start at 2pm and 5pm.
For more details call 07071 228899.
Picture: ANDY PALMER
Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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