`Are we nearly there?' - a circus roundup for children

These days children can run away to the circus - to learn clowning skills. Below are some of the best centres.

Circus Space, Coronet Street, Hackney, London N16 (0171-613 4141)

One of the best known circus schools, teaching children to do a perfect back flip, swing upside-down on a trapeze, and keep eight balls in the air while walking on stilts. There's the added bonus of drama lessons. Mon (7-9 years), Tue (10-12 years), Thu (12 years and over) 4.30pm-6.30pm, all pounds 5.

Circomedia, Kingswood Foundation, Britannia Road, Kingswood, Bristol (0117 947 7042)

Jackie Williams used to work as a trapeze artist for Cirque du Soleil, and offers highly professional training. "We use top quality equipment and encourage children to decide what they want to specialise in," she says, "so they can work towards compiling their own CVs." Children can learn trapeze, tight wire, unicycling, acrobatics, stilt-walking and mini- trampoline. Sat (10.30am-1pm), Sun 1pm-7pm, Wed (trapeze, 6pm-7pm). 10 years and over. Annual membership pounds 15 (inc personal accident insurance). Lessons cost pounds 65 per 10-week term, plus pounds 20 blanket cost for extra classes. Taster sessions, pounds 6.

Skylight Circus Arts, Broadwater Centre, Smith Street, Rochdale, Lancashire (01706 506 76)

Combines traditional clowning with activities such as physical theatre, dance and puppetry. Regular big top community shows: the next, in April, features huge carnival costumes, slide projections, trapeze displays, stilts. Classes on Wed 4pm-5.30pm pounds 1, trapeze sessions Thu 4pm-5pm, pounds 1.

Greentop Community Circus Centre, Holywell Road, Sheffield, Yorkshire (0114281 8350)

Manipulation, equilibristics and acrobalance are among the arts that are taught at this centre - in other words, plate-spinning, globe-walking and handstands. A new 10-week term begins in March. Classes are on Wed 4.30pm-6.30pm (5-16 years). pounds 2 members, pounds 3 non-members.

For your nearest centre, call the National Association of Youth Circus (0113 287 6080).

Liese Spencer