THE thrills and spills of Billy Smart's Circus are heading to Redditch for the first time.

The circus will be at Arrow Valley Country Park until Sunday.

But one of the circus' most popular acts may be stubbed out as it risks falling "fowl" of anti-smoking laws.

Joey the Parrot, the puppet partner of ventriloquist Ross Presto, is seen in his act smoking a cigarette. At a recent show, this angered an audience member, who threatened to report the circus.

A circus spokesman said: "Joey isn't a real parrot, he's a dummy.

"As much as anything, it's a piece of clever technology that sees the dummy bird light up during his master's act but now, Joey, Ross Presto and Billy Smart's are threatened by anti-smoking legislation.

Ross said: "An audience member saw my act last week and told circus staff he'd be reporting me to environmental health.

"We have to take these things seriously but maybe there's a challenge here to the anti-smoking law. People aren't allowed to smoke in public places - but Joey isn't a person, he's a puppet!"

"There's no-one smoking here", he added.

Joey and Ross were said to be fuming at the latest development .

To book tickets for the circus, call 0870 4441505.