FIRE juggling and rugby on unicycles are not activities usually associated with schools, but one group of North Yorkshire youngsters are preparing to put on a show combining all manner of circus skills.

Thirty pupils at Richmond School are taking part in a circus performance next week.

Gymnasts and members of the school's circus club have been rehearsing every week since the start of the year.

Among the performances will be a display of unicycle riding, including unicycle rugby and hockey, as well as knife, fire and diabolo juggling.

Maths teacher Andrew Mollitt, who is also the circus club leader, said: "We have been working on it all year so it will be the culmination of a lot of hard work.

"We have done little performances before in assemblies and village fetes, but this is the first time we have tried to put on a big circus show.

"We went to watch the circus in York early in the school year and we fancied trying it ourselves."

Performances take place at the school on July 14, 15 and 16.

Tickets cost £3.50 for adults and £2 for children and are available from the school or on the door.