SHOPPERS are being tempted into Chippenham with street entertainers and new Sunday opening hours.

A stilt-walking fire-eater is the latest attraction brought in by Chippenham Town Council to attract shoppers to the town's dwindling Friday and Saturday markets.

In January stallholders complained they were experiencing a serious drop-off in trade following the markets' move from Bath Road Market car park to the Market Place.

And earlier this year, the town council's services manager, Ray Lane, said a re-think was needed to attract new customers and traders.

Taro the Jester, a fire-eating stilt-walker, who has performed for princes William and Harry, performed for traders and customers on Friday.

Council promotion and events officer Emma King, said his appearance was a coup for the town.

"We also had a giant stilt-walking dragon going around the market on Friday and it went down very well with traders, who reported an increase in trade," she said.

More events are planned over the summer and a further boost to the town's trade is expected with news the Emery Gate Shopping Centre is to start Sunday trading from September.

The 20-year-old complex is also being given a £750,000 facelift, including a coffee bar in the piazza outside Somerfield.

It is hoped the new look will also attract more high quality retailers, including a fashion outlet for the vacant unit alongside Somerfield.

Development manager Mike Bryant said the centre was in need of an overhaul and that although a small number of traders would stay closed on Sundays, 70 per cent were expected to trade.

Jugglers and stilt walkers also entertained shoppers in Malmesbury as Giffords Circus paraded around the town.

The circus' big top and wagons have been set up on Athelstan Mead as the show, based on the 1930s village circus starts a five-day run this afternoon.

Amy Howard, of the circus, said: "Our circus makes a real impact on people and we mainly just perform on village greens."

Spectators will be able to enjoy the black stallion, jugglers Bibi and Bichu, Oleg the Russian strong man, and slack rope walker Kwabana Lyndsey, all to the refrain of the troupe's two musicians.

The circus, founded by Oxford graduate Nell Gifford and her husband Toti in 2000, won the Jerwood Circus award last year and the £10,000 prize money has been used to bring in three new acts. These are an upside down dancing lady, a doll-like dancer and an equestrienne.

The times of the shows are: June 5 and June 6 at 5pm and 7.30pm, Saturday 7, June at 2.30pm and 7.30pm, Sunday 8, Juneat 2.30pm and 5.30pm and Monday 9, June at 5pm.