PRESTON juggler Paul Barberel has packed his bags and said goodbye to Preston and hello to the circus.

The 17-year-old Plungington teenager has scooped a job with the Peter Jolly Circus, which will be touring around the country for eight months this summer.

The job offer was the product of months of hard work at a circus school based in the capital of comic capers - Rochdale.

During his time at the Skylight Circus School, which he opted to join instead of progressing on to mainstream further education, he was spotted by talent scouts from the Peter Jolly Circus.

After spending three weeks on trial with the circus in the Channel Islands, Paul has been offered the chance of joining it for their 25th anniversary tour.

According to mum June he can't wait to get stuck in.

She said: "This is a wonderful opportunity for him. It is isn't the first time he has performed in the Big Top, but to get an eight-month contract is just great.

"People from all over the world have tried to get in this circus, so for Paul to get in is tremendous. We are so proud of him."

Paul has appeared at the Blackpool Tower Circus, the international circus at Blackpool Pleasure Beach and the Circus Star in Chorley.

The Peter Jolly Circus national tour starts on March 21 in Telford, and Paul will spend his 18th birthday performing in the ring in York, where his family hope to watch him.

Organisers at the circus are hoping to be allowed to perform on this side of the Pennines, possibly in Preston.

June added: "It would be his dream come true to perform in Preston in front of his friends."

Paul's circus ambition first came to light in 1997 when he appealed to Citizen readers to help him find a juggling partner - and he got one.

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