Exhibition takes peek behind the scenes of the circus

Image copyrightPETER LAVERY

Image captionBrenda Haeni and Robert Fossett with an elephant at Fossett Brothers Circus, 1973

A rare insight into the world of circuses, taken over the past 50 years, has gone on show.

Photographer Peter Lavery has visited every circus in the UK and recorded the changes the industry has faced.

He said he liked showing performers "from a different angle" with a behind-the-scenes view of their work.

The Circus Work exhibition is at the Harley Gallery on the Welbeck Estate, near Worksop, Nottinghamshire, until 15 April.

Image copyrightPETER LAVERY

Image captionJana 'The Little Devil' Roberts at The Blackpool Tower Circus in 2005

The exhibition is part of Circus250, a celebration of the industry which is reputed to have started in 1768 on an abandoned patch of land near London's Waterloo.

It was there that showman, entrepreneur and equestrian rider Philip Astley is believed to have gathered together jugglers, acrobats, clowns, strong men and bareback riders and drawn out the very first circus ring.

Image copyrightPETER LAVERY

Image captionArco Winships, a Scottish strongman at Mini circus, Queen's Hall, Leeds, December 1971

Mr Lavery said: "I've been all over the world and just keep coming back to circuses.

"I love seeing behind the illusion they create, to the social side, and I love being in circuses, where you might wake up to a camel going past the window."

Image copyrightPETER LAVERY

Image captionFive Blackpool Tower Circusettes in their changing room, Blackpool Tower, 1974

Image copyrightPETER LAVERY

Image captionGabor Eotvos Senior, Tibor Eotvos and Gabor Eotvos Junior, Billy Smart's, Croydon, 1971

Image copyrightPETER LAVERY

Image captionNell Gifford, co-founder of Gifford's Circus, dressed in riding regalia with children Red and Cecil

Image copyrightPETER LAVERY

Image captionRuslan Daurbekov in a bear suit, Moscow State Circus, 1988