A MOTHER was shocked when her daughter ran off with a circus clown. But this year she will be on the front row watching them perform.

Chris Scott, of Birchett, Singleton, Ashford, was stunned when her 16-year-old daughter left the security of their family home and school to travel the country in a caravan.

Kayleigh Scott, was studying at Christ Church School, Millbank Road, Kingsnorth, when she went to the Santus Circus at nearby Great Chart with friends. It was there she met the man of her dreams Danish clown Sacha Santus.

After visiting him every day for a week and travelling to see him when he moved on, she decided to give up everything and join the circus.

Kayleigh's mother is emotional as she remembers her daughter saying she was leaving the home she shared with her parents and twin brother.

Mrs Scott, who works in Specsavers in the town centre, said: "You expect things of your children but this was so out of the ordinary I felt as if I had been punched.

"As a parent I couldn't believe she was doing this to me and thought it was a crush she would grow out of."

Since joining the circus in August, Kayleigh has trained to juggle, hula-hoop and now acts as a clown psychic and runs the shop at the circus.

After the initial shock Mrs Scott realised she was hasty in judging the performers.

She said: "They have brought her into their family and she has learned such a lot from them because they're very well educated."

Mrs Scott tried everything to lure her daughter back including decorating her room but has now accepted her daughter's life and is pleased for her.

The Santus Circus is coming to the Great Chart Recreation Ground on Wednesday, June 9 to 13.

Mrs Scott has booked time off work to see her daughter, now 17.

She said: "I still live in hope she will come home at some stage because we miss her a great deal. But she and Sacha are inseparable. I'm really proud and happy with what she is doing."