PASSERS-by might be forgiven for thinking the circus had come into town.

Motorists stared, bemused, as a clown, with bright ginger wig, cycled vigorously through the streets of Southampton yesterday. But there was a serious reason for the bizarre scenes.

Film crews from the BBC's Crimewatch series came to town to reconstruct a sinister acid attack on a hairdresser. They filmed a look-alike of the suspect, cycling through Woolston, to broadcast next week.

Last night, film crews were also due to interview victim Andy Sinclair from his bed at Salisbury District Hospital.

The 51-year-old victim still faces lengthy treatment after suffering agonising burns to his face, arm and chest during the attack on June 12.

Doctors say his eyesight may not be permanently damaged, but he will have to stay in hospital while delicate skin grafts are being carried out.

Mr Sinclair was working in his Victoria Road salon, when a man wearing a distinctive tartan cap, bright orange wig and blue boiler suit burst in and threw sulphuric acid over him, then fled on a woman's old-fashioned-style pushbike before zooming off on a motorbike.

Today detectives are still mystified about what prompted the horrendous acid attack. Detective Inspector Nigel Niven, leading the inquiry codenamed Operation Riverbourne, urged people to tune in to the reconstruction next Wednesday evening, July 18.

Det Insp Niven said: "We have been terribly impressed with the response so far but I will appeal for Daily Echo readers to come forward with any further information. We also encourage people to watch the programme to see if it may jog their memory about events that morning."

Any information to the Operation Riverbourne team on 084 5045 4545 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.