Bestival is to stage its biggest ever finale this summer in an historic celebration of 250 years of the circus.

Organisers of the popular Dorset festival which runs from Thursday, August 2 to Sunday, August 5 at Lulworth Castle, have joined forces with Cirque Bijou for the event which will be the culmination of four days of music and entertainment on over 20 stages and micro-venues.

Bestival ringmaster, Rob da Bank says: “We do love a finale at Bestival, and the fact that nearly everyone stays on Sunday night attests to the strength of that.

“Not content with seeing Plan B and then MIA smash it on the Castle Stage, the evening will then take a theatrical, high-octane turn with our amazing mates from Cirque Bijou and friends, who will walk a flaming high wire among many other feats of circus daring with our awesome fireworks as the backdrop. Warning - you will not wanna go home after this!”

Billy Alwen, artistic director of Cirque Bijou said: “We have been working with Bestival for many years in the amazing venue Caravanserai, and this year we are able to celebrate 250 years of circus in the UK by bringing one of our favourite outdoor shows to Lulworth.

“Appropriately, the show is based around one of the most iconic, exciting and spectacular skills in circus: tight wire walking.

“We will be adding a new twist and it will be performed by some of the most exciting circus artists.”

Set to the festival’s acclaimed fireworks display by the award-winning Two Tigers, renowned high wire artist Jade Kindar Martin will perform a solo walk on a record-breaking 100ft wire which will be ablaze.

For more details, see bestival.net