A CIRCUS will return to West Oxfordshire for the 10th time tomorrow.

Jay Miller’s Circus will be at the Leys Recreation Ground, in Witney, until Sunday, May 31.

Circus owner Jon Miller promised this year’s show would not fail to impress.

Mr Miller, 47, said: “We aim to entertain all the family.

“There’s no outstanding act that fills out the whole show. There’s something, we think, for everybody.

“The very last act is like ‘wow’. There is a good live show and then at the last moment, something happens.”

The 30-strong group of entertainers have just three months to put together a new show each year at their base in Bourne-mouth, before they begin touring the South East.

This year, acrobats from Bulgaria, Ukraine, Russia, Moldavia and Hungary have been recruited to give the show a continental flavour.

Using animal-free acts since 1997, Mr Miller said the show still uses traditional routines, with all the real danger loved by so many.

The circus’ most memorable brush with the dangers of the profession was when Peppi the clown plunged 40ft from the top of the tent, shattering his ankle and injuring his back.

However, the eager performer was back in the ring after just six weeks.

Mr Miller said: “We haven’t had any serious accidents during the 22 years – we’ve had the minor blip but it’s live entertainment.

“At the end of the day, the circus is a risky business and people want to see danger.”

The circus is a family affair, run by Mr Miller and his wife Liz. The two eldest of the couple’s four children perform in the circus, with 15-year-old Charlotte juggling using her feet and 12-year-old Jodi hula-hooping up to 30 rings at a time.

Mr Miller said: “We have talented kids — they learn everything. They see it every day and so they just join in.”

Live performances will be at 3pm and 7pm daily, with the exception of tomorrow when the circus opens at 7pm and this Sunday, when performances take place at 2pm and 5pm.

For details, call 07976 655180.