A daredevil circus enthusiast is to set to take on an acrobatic challenge dauntingly called the Wheel of Death.
62-year-old Stephen Cane will join Santus' Circus when it rolls into Braintree later this month to perform the death-defying feat.
The aptly named Wheel of Death is a large rotating apparatus on which performers carry out synchronized acrobatic skills.
The Wheel of Death
Mr Cane will join two experts in their performance to a potentially packed out tent in Meadowside park on Wednesday, September 26.
He said: "It is something I have wanted to do on my bucket list.
"When you get to a certain part of you life you think about things like this.
"The day before I will have a bit of training but I have already spoken to the professionals who have given me the all-clear to do it.
"I am excited and nervous. When it is done it will be an achievement."
Mr Cane has been fascinated by circuses since he was a child and is a member of the Circus Model Builders group.
His love of big top performances really started when he was growing up in Worthing, Sussex.
He said: "We used to have all the big circuses come to the field next to our house which is where I first went.
"As I got older I had kids and started taking them along.
"My wife wanted me to get a hobby of some kind so I started making models which is how I get to meet the Lucian the clown from Santus' Circus.
"I was approached by the owner of the circus and asked if I wanted to do it.
"I love circuses and it is something I want to be a part of.
"It is for myself, I am not doing it for anyone else."
Santus Circus will be in Braintree from Wednesday, September 26, to Sunday, September 30.
Visit www.santuscircus.com.
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