It is rare for any event to capture the imagination of an entire population but the whole of Monaco seemed to be in the grip of circus fever for the 30th International Monte Carlo Circus Festival.

The lavish Christmas illuminations - which included a big top and ring created out of fairy lights complete with artists and animals - were left up, every shop window had a circus-themed display and even the cashiers in the supermarkets wore circus sweatshirts and badges.

Intended to honour its late founder Prince Rainier, the festival was billed as a ‘best of’ with the artists being drawn from previous winners of the festival’s highly sought-after Clown awards. With the passage of time, many acts are no longer performing, so inevitably most of the artists chosen had appeared here during the past ten years.

Read more about the 2006 Monte Carlo Circus Festival at http://www.thestage.co.uk.