Ref. 29562-69A travelling circus has been destroyed by last weekend's gusty weather just days after its opening night in Swindon.

Circus Fantazia had been pitched in Blunsdon on the A419 turnpike, behind The Little Chef, since March 10.

But the 60mph winds and torrential rain that lashed Swindon last weekend proved too much for the big top.

The blustery conditions caused £70,000 worth of damage, forcing circus owner Mark James to close down for safety reasons.

Luckily there was no one in the big top at the time.

Mr James said he was absolutely gutted by the turn of events.

"The weather was horrendous," he said.

"The metal bar that holds the tent roof on had become all twisted and we had no choice but to close down for the safety of the public.

"There's no way we could keep the tour on the road."

Swindon was the recently-formed troupe's first venue on a tour that was to have lasted several months.

Performers boasted impressive international CVs and the show's horses, Frosty and Steele, had already proved popular with the initial audiences.

Mr James said the performers had gone their separate ways since the circus disbanded on Sunday.

He said: "It was a questioning of salvaging what we could but the winds were too strong. I'm not sure what we'll do now.

"All the performers have left to find other work.

"If there's nothing around here it might be a case of having to go abroad to look for work."

The circus was due to leave its plot in Blunsdon on Sunday after the last performance and move to Marlborough on Monday.

Mr James said: "A few tickets were bought in advance for the show a no refund basis but most people were buying them on the night.

"I am having talks with my insurers about what will happen. At this stage I just don't know.

"People will have to wait until I know more information.

"I know that people feel let down but we have not done this out of spite.

"If the audience's safety was at risk we couldn't carry on.

"We had already cancelled some performances because of the winds so luckily there was no one actually in the tent at the time.."

Performers included high-flying trapeze artist Amanda Sandow, 39, whose act incorporated walking upside down across the circus roof.

She was joined by Tweedy the clown, who thrilled audiences in the Wyvern Theatre's Goldilocks and the Three Bears pantomime, Gabor Eotvos, a musical clown from Hungary who can play 100 different instruments and The Gan Bat Troupe, from Japan.

Alex Emery