MODERN home entertainments may try their best but nothing can quite compare with the thrill of a live circus.

Big top fans are in for a treat from today, when Jay Miller's Circus comes to town - and, with a little help from the Daily Echo, you could be going for free (see below).

The live spectacular is at the Bursledon Road circus site, Southampton, from today until Sunday, then at Fleming Park, Eastleigh, from November 12-17.

The circus boasts a wealth of traditional and exotic acts from all over the world, including, for the first time, the Bulgarian Tangra Troupe, whose knockabout artistry and trampoline act features the legendary triple somersault and more than 100 continuous somersaults by just one man in under two minutes.

The Lucky Sisters from Hungary will also be dazzling audiences with their high-flying aerial act, while Gabbi, from Romania, combines amazing strength and agility on the hand-balancing apparatus.

Liliana, meanwhile, will be putting her death-defying

talents to the test on the swinging trapeze.

Comedy - always an essential part of a trip to the circus - is represented by double-act Peppi and Lydey.

Other amazing acts include jugglers, knife-throwers and the singing ringmaster Mike Lea.

For tickets and further information, call the box office on 07976 655180.