A STILTwalker from Trowbridge who lives in a top floor flat and has nowhere to practice her skills is appealing for help.

Assarina von Koenigstaedter, 46, of Willow Grove, is willing to perform for free at local community events so she can use her stilts.

She said: "I have sometimes practised around the garages and the streets but it is not nice walking around the same area all the time.

"I want to keep doing it because I enjoy it but there are not many opportunities to do it."

Ms von Koenigstaedter began stiltwalking as a child, growing up with the circus.

Her mother was a trapeze artist and her father was also a circus performer and, as a child, she travelled widely and was inspired to learn to stiltwalk by the circus clowns.

"I can't remember when I got my very first pair of stilts, but I was very young, and I just went from there," she said.

Her stiltwalking activities have attracted interested questions from children living near her home, who want to know how she learned and how she gets on to the stilts.

Ms von Koenigstaedter used to live in Melksham and would perform in the town's annual carnival but, since moving to Trowbridge in 1996 has found fewer opportunities to practice.

She said she is happy to go along to events such as shows and fetes in the area, although she doesn't drive and will need help with transport.

Anyone interested can call her on (01225) 751968.