A CIRCUS "on the brink of collapse" is appealing for help to survive.

Eastleigh based, Happy's Circus has helped to raise funds for charities and schools and remained a successful business for nearly 29 years after being created by Happy the Clown.

Now though, due to the pandemic causing schools to cancel bookings, the circus says it is on "the brink of collapse" after 20 months of lost work.

Unable to perform throughout 2020 the owners of the circus took out loans and received grants meaning they were on track to start rehearsals in March 2021.

But then when new waves of the virus struck there was said to be no event income with fixed costs remaining the same.

The delayed start of Happy’s Circus Covid-safe 2021 season was planned to coincide with "Freedom Day" on June 21 but the delay to restrictions being eased resulted in the cancellation of more than 50 per cent of bookings.

Now the circus is on the search for bookings and the owners of the circus, Russ Randell and Pat said: ""We will need an additional £180,000 generated from bookings and donations to keep us going until we can start fundraising in April 2022 and continue to entertain, educate and fundraise for future generations of children.

"All the money donated will be used to help keep Happy's Circus alive until we can start fundraising again in April 2022, when we are already almost fully booked and can get back to making everybody's day a happy one.

“If you have enjoyed Happy’s Circus during the last 29 years or if you are a school that has benefited from fundraising with us, please, help us survive to continue our Life's work by donating whatever you can."