KARENINA the contortionist and Egor the fire-blowing butler will be among the bizarre acts when the Circus of Horrors comes to town.

The show visits Bolton eight years after it appeared at the Glastonbury Festival in 1995. Since then, it has toured relentlessly around the world and achieved cult status.

Set in 1900, the age of the freak show, The Circus of Horrors takes visitors into a world of the supernatural, bringing them face to face with sensational circus acts including sword swallowers, Voodoo acrobats, vampires suspended by their hair and a pickled person emerging from a tiny bottle.

According to organisers, this year sees the return of Wasp Boy who, despite his 18- inch waist, can swallow five sword's simultaneously then twist them inside his stomach.

He is joined by his twin brother, Vaultini, who passes 300,000 vaults of electricity through his body and sends lightning bolt from his finger tips. Also coming to Bolton is Gary Stretch, who can pull the skin on his neck right over his face.

A spokesman said: "We're delighted to be coming to Bolton," as performers came to town to show what is on offer.

"For the past eight years, we've toured extensively and been on lots of TV shows like Don't try this at Home, The Jerry Springer Show, Guinness World Records and Graham Norton. It'll be a treat for people in Bolton."

The show will be at Bolton's Albert Hall on Tuesday, February 10.