Weird and wonderful acts will be entertaining audiences in Great Yarmouth this weekend for the ninth Out There International Festival of Circus and Street Arts.

Performers from across the UK as well as France, Spain, Brazil, Australia and Sweden feature in the programme which is for people of all ages and mostly free. Highlights include Gorilla Circus’ high-flying spectacle Altitude and NoFit State Circus and Motionhouse’s Jenga-style show Block. More than 50,000 people are expected to attend the event.

“It’s one of the big annual events that takes place in the town that genuinely brings people from all corners of the borough together in a really relaxed, friendly, entertaining environment,” said Mr Grice.

“One of the original ideas behind it was it was a way of bringing everyone together in celebration from all walks of life, and an international celebration as well.”

As usual much of the entertainment will be in St George’s Park, and Mr Grice said this year there would also be a focus on Marine Parade.

He said: “We’ve worked quite closely with Greater Yarmouth Tourism and Business Improvement Area (GYTABIA) and this year we will have a very big seafront programme...and the festival is rolling on into the evening which is great in terms of the local businesses on the seafront being able to capitalise on the tens of thousands of people that visit and the economic boom that it brings to the town.”

The festival starts on Friday and ends on Sunday - visit www.outtherefestival.com