MAYOR Ray Parsons learned a few juggling skills when he launched the family learning day at Devizes Library on Saturday.

The North Wilts and Kennet Local Learning Partnership organised the taster day so that families in the town could sample the kind of courses available through Wiltshire College and other agencies throughout the two districts.

There were sessions on storytelling, music, mosaic-making, fun and science and face painting.

Mr Parsons found learning to juggle very entertaining.

Meanwhile, all the fun and excitement of the Big Top, including the world's only juggling robot, comes to Devizes this week as Gilbert and Paolo's Circus arrives on The Green.

The humans-only circus will perform on The Green from Wednesday to Sunday and, as well as the electronic juggler, features the best international circus performers with trapeze acts, acrobats, trampolinists, a balancing act, comics, dancers and, of course, the circus clowns.

Spokesman Philip Walker said it is vital that circuses move with the times. He said: "Families today see so much on film and TV, but our circus show is real, live entertainment. This hi-tech approach is a new dimension to the thrills and the magic."