CIRCUS entertainer Howie Morley couldn't believe it when he lost everything in a blaze - because he is a fire-eater.

The performer and his partner awoke today to find flames engulfing their lorry, parked in a Winchester recreation ground.

The NoFit State Circus company had rolled into town on Tuesday and set up camp in the park at Gordon Road ready for their opening night tomorrow.

An electrical fault in the engine of their 1970s Mercedes lorry has been identified as the most likely cause of the blaze.

Company manager Tom Rack added: "It's quite ironic. The fire-eater really did get more than he could swallow but it was quite major and quite a bit of a shock."

Mr Morley and partner Kate Thomas, a performer and singer, woke at about 3am to find the fire.

Howie, 36, said: "I can see the irony that it was a fire-eater's lorry that caught fire but I am devastated. My whole life was in that lorry.

"Kate woke up and immediately alerted me, we both dashed out in our underpants and she woke everyone up. I grabbed some fire extinguishers and everyone else turned out with buckets of water."

Howie's fire breathing equipment and beloved 1950s brothel creeper show shoes were in the lorry and they now have to start salvaging what they can from the wreckage.

He added: "We are just so lucky to be alive. The show's subtitle is 'Coming Out Alive' and that's what we did. Within five minutes of us waking up and getting out, it was a fireball."

Howie, who also performs acrobatics in the show, had owned the lorry for the past two years but it had been used as a circus vehicle for at least a decade. It had been kitted out with a double bed, shower, sofa and kitchen.

Firefighters from Winchester and Eastleigh were on the scene within ten minutes of being called and quickly got the blaze under control.

The NoFit State Circus company, based in Cardiff, is made up of 35 performers from all over the world.

Many Winchester residents wandering through the North Walls recreation ground may have spotted their giant silver space ship tent which has a capacity for 500 people.

They will perform at Winchester Hat Fair as part of their national UK tour from tomorrow until July 4.