THEY came for a spectacular show but the Heavens beat them to it.

Chard's Jocelyn Park - where crowds should have been gawping yesterday (Sunday, July 1) at the thrills of Jay Miller's Circus - was instead full of confused visitors wandering where it had gone.

Unfortunately for hundreds of expectant fans, torrential rain on Saturday meant the circus' fleet of 30 lorries couldn't access the park to set up the giant marquee.

With further rain forecast this week, circus organisers took the painful decision to cancel four more two-hour shows at Jocelyn Park on Monday and Tuesday.

Jay Miller told the News today: "The entrance to Jocelyn Park is very wet. It's drying now but it's going to take a week to be dry enough.

"The park is used for football and the last thing we wanted to do was bring 30 lorries through and churn up the grass."

The circus crew arrived in Chard on Saturday night after performing in Newton Abbot but even the lightest of their lorries could not negotiate the muddy entrance to the park.

Mr Miller said: "We tried to find another venue just outside the town but there wasn't enough time to get the paperwork sorted.

"It's really unfortunate. It's with a heavy heart we have to cancel.

"We have been to Chard the last two or three years. We like coming and people like us here but the heavens have beaten us to it.

"Most people understood why it was cancelled but some people saw the sunny weather on Sunday and couldn't understand where the circus was."

Weather permitting, the circus will return to Chard next year, according to Mr Miller.

It has been a firm favourite in Chard since its first visit about three years ago, with most of the 450-capacity marquee being filled.

Mr Miller described this year's show, drawn largely from the Hungarian State Circus and featuring jugglers, BMX bikers and clowns among others, as vibrant, youthful, family fun.

Despite the downpour, there is still a chance for those unable to wait until next year to see the show in Dorset.

Mr Miller said: "We are performing at Charmouth on Thursday and West Bay on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

"Anybody who has got tickets or vouchers for Chard can use them at Charmouth or West Bay."

He added: "Those that pre-booked tickets for Chard with a credit card will get a full refund."

For more information, phone the box office on 07976-655180.

Were you one of the unfortunate ones to miss out on the circus? You can offer your thoughts using the comment form below.