A NIGHT at the circus turned into terror for a Holmer Green family when part of the big top collapsed in high winds.

Mum Fiona McNaught, 40, said her partner and two young children had a lucky escape' from Billy Smart's Circus in Windsor on Good Friday.

Six people suffered minor injuries when a side flap of the tent came loose in high winds at the town's racecourse. Three were taken to Wexham Park Hospital.

Fiona, who attended with partner Steve Lee, 42 and children Rebecca, one and James, seven, said: "There was a really loud howling wind noise but the sides of the tent weren't moving at all - in fact we thought it was all part of the act.

"The circus people were all relaxed and smiling. Then a split appeared to the right of the performer's tunnel high up in the wall of the tent.

"It just grew and grew and the sound of the high wind was joined by clanking metal like scaffolding poles being banged together."

The family just sat there and stared at the gap appearing' - then realised it was time to move.

Fiona, of Orchard Way, said: "I said let's get out of here' and grabbed the kids and ran for it. We were one of the first to leave."

She said: "Everyone sort of jumped up together and there was a mass panic with screaming and shouting and this awful howling noise and we all ran out of the tent and into a huge storm of wind, hail and thunder.

"Just as we turned to run the staging around the performer's tunnel collapsed.

"We felt we had a lucky escape. It was really quite nasty."

Not everyone was so shook up though said Fiona, a PA.

"My son said mummy can we do that again?' He thought it was great. It was the older children who were screaming and crying."

Chris Barltrop, spokesman for the circus, established in 1946, said: "We appreciate how alarming it must have been for audience members when a freak wind struck our big top on Friday evening.

"The circus management praises the audience for the calm way they left the big top."