A charity circus rolled up to raise both smiles and money for Bradford’s Marie Curie Hospice.

As part of its 2009 tour the Circus Starr was at the La Liga Soccer Centre, in Bradford, yesterday to perform two shows featuring its mix of acrobatics and comedy.

Audiences were treated to the antics of Duo Delbosq and the Argentinean Gaucho, with the famed Bolas Dance of Courage.

In addition Tracy Jones performed her internationally-acclaimed Corde Lisse act.

The circus occupies a unique position by raising thousands of pounds for charities with the advance sale of show tickets to local businesses.

Some 50 per cent of the profits from those sales go towards specialised equipment for hospitals and hospices. Since taking to the road 22 years ago, Circus Starr had raised more than £2 million.

In Bradford the money goes to the local Marie Curie Hospice, which offers specialist help for people with life-limiting illnesses, including cancer, motor neurone disease and renal failure.

It is one of nine Marie Curie Hospices offering such care and it costs £408 to care for a patient in the hospice for one day. The services Marie Curie Cancer Care provides are always free.

Circus Starr today moved on to Hull for shows to support The Hull Royal Infirmary.

e-mail: claire.lomax@telegraphandargus.co.uk