IN spite of near hurricane winds and torrential rain, Jay Miller's Circus opened on schedule on the Carnival Field at Verwood.

This is the 21st year of this Dorset-based circus, which was started by civil engineer Jon Miller in 1987 and from humble beginnings has grown in size and stature.

Starting with a small two-pole tent, it changed two years later to a four-pole Italian Big Top and by the 1990s had become an international fixture.

In one of the best opening sequences I've seen for a long time, all the performers give a glimpse of what they will be doing later in the show.

The traditional ringmaster (or should it be ringmistress?) is glamorous Heather Keskinen in top hat, red coat and shimmering tights.

She also acts as foil to the very funny Clown Peppi from Mexico, who transforms her into a witch.

Csabi does everything on a BMX bike and lovely Russian Anastasia girates on a high crescent moon.

From the Ukraine are superb acrobats Duo Klyuchev.