A former star act with the Moscow State Circus has welcomed the troop to his home town of Ashford for the first time.

Victor Pililovich, 48, has lived in Knight’s Park, Kingsnorth, for eight years with his wife Galina and two daughters.

But for more than two decades the couple were the star juggling act with the circus as they toured the world.

Their oldest daughter is still a member of the travelling company - she has retired as a trapeze artist and is in charge of feeding the artists.

Victor, from the Ukraine, trained at a circus school and he met his wife and formed the juggling and boomerang act.

Retiring after more than 20 years performing nightly across Europe, he continues to book the acts for the touring show from his home.

He said: “I had a wonderful life in the circus as in the early years it was one of the few careers where you were allowed to travel out of Russia.

“I performed over the years when we came to Canterbury and Folkestone but this is the first time in what is now my home town.”

The line-up of more than 30 performers includes Olympic bronze and World Championship gold medal gymnasts on the flying trapeze, an amazing springboard troupe, breathtaking balancing acts and award winning clowns.

The Moscow State Circus is at Victoria Park until Sunday. For ticket details call 0844 856 5555.