Bath Chronicle sub-editor Abby Ray catapulted to stardom when she ran away to join one of the country's leading contemporary circuses.

Abby, who spends most of her spare time writing, grabbed the chance to join the NoFit State Circus when performers offered a member of the paper's features team the chance to take part in rehearsals.

With the department being generally of a more 'mature' age, 26-year-old Abby thoughtfully volunteered her services.

But she told HoldtheFrontPage things were not all that they seemed.

She said: "I expected when I arrived to be asked to do something very low key like a bit of juggling, or riding a unicycle."

Instead she found herself attached to a bungee band and ricocheting all over the ring like a crazed Zebedee.

She said: "It was absolutely amazing.

"I really enjoy features writing, and do them in my spare time. Usually it's things like restaurant reviews or travel pieces.

"So when I was given the opportunity to join the circus – I jumped at it.

"I must admit I didn't feel much like it when I arrived at the field where they have set up their spaceship style tent. After a day at work I was feeling a bit tired, and not really up to it."

But as soon as she was attached to the giant baby bouncer – that was it. She was hooked.

After that a spell on the rope and the chance to hang suspended from a hoop 50 feet high in the Big Top held no fears.

Abby, who also enjoys jazz singing, swimming and walking, says she would like to join to join a circus workshop – if she had a few more hours in the day.

Instead she found time to drop in on one the NoFit State Circus's performances and was "absolutely blown away".

But she has no intentions of leaving her desk job for a life on the open road.

She said: "I wasn't really tempted. They travel around all the time, and don't have baths in their caravans – and I'm afraid I couldn't live without a bath!"

To read Abby's own account of her circus adventure click here.