A FORMER German tax collector who swallows swords for a living, and his wife who performs an aerial act suspended only by her hair. These are just some of the stars of a new Circus of Horrors show called Psycho Asylum that visits Lighthouse Poole next month.

Hosted by Doktor Haze, for more than 23 years, Circus of Horrors has shocked audiences the world over with its trademark blend of horror and burlesque with bizarre and barely believable acts.

It was the first circus to perform in the West End for more than a century and it made it through to the finals of Britain’s Got Talent.

A tour spokesman said: “This time the company is exploring its deepest, darkest recesses, the place where all hope has gone and there’s nowhere left to hide.

“This is where the serial killers, the psychopaths and the criminally insane are left to their own devices presented as a rock ‘n’ rollercoaster ride of a show with its forked tongue planted firmly in its cheek.”

Circus of Horrors drew its first breaths at the 1995 Glastonbury festival and became an instant hit, touring all over the world from Chile to Chatham, Argentina to Aberdeen, Japan to Jersey including festival appearances with Alice Cooper, Ermine, Motley Cure, Oasis, Iron Maiden, Manic Street Preachers, Foo Fighters, Guns & Roses, Marilyn Manson, Ozzy Osbourne and many more.

Circus of Horrors: Psycho Asylum starts at 7.45pm on Thursday, January 24. Tickets: £18.50 to £23.50. (Concessions available). To book, call 01202 280000 or visit lighthousepoole.co.uk