A death-defying act has promised to put audiences in a spin with one of the most dangerous circus stunts in the world.

A death-defying act has promised to put audiences in a spin with one of the most dangerous circus stunts in the world.

Two men will leap through a giant spinning hamster-style wheel from the ceiling of the historic Hippodrome building at Yarmouth.

The circus has secured a Portuguese act called the Wheel of Death for the first time in a rare treat for visitors to the seaside resort.

And the circus has many old favourites returning, including the father-and-son ringmaster and clown act Clive and Danny Adams, and new performers like a troupe of acrobats from Africa.

The show this year is themed after the great escape artist Harry Houdini who played at the venue in the 1920s, and will feature a finale escape attempt by a man in a straight jacket dangling from a burning rope over a tank of water.

But it is the Wheel of Death with The Grenadero Brothers that promises to be this summer's big draw.

Nuno Grenadero, who is one half of the act, said: “It is something that needs to be seen to be believed. All the time it is moving and we are doing crazy stuff in it.

“It is very dangerous because we only have 60cms of wheel it stands on, and it is 10m from the floor. The next second it's two foot from the floor. If we miscalculate just a tiny bit, I fall.”

And he said: “The reason it is called the Wheel of Death is because many people have died doing it. I know three people who have died on it. Everybody likes seeing it a lot because of that danger.”

The circus runs from today, July 18, to September 9 daily at 2.30pm and 7.30pm, except Friday when there is no afternoon show. Prices range from £10 to £15 for adults, £11 for OAPs and £9 for children. Call 01493 844172 or see www.hippodromecircus.com.