A key Brighton Festival Fringe act has crashed on its way to Brighton.
The Moscow State Circus suffered a setback when one of its lorry trailers careered into a block of flats this morning.
The big yellow trailer contained the circus’s box office. The 35-strong cast were unhurt.
The circus is due to perform in Preston Park, Brighton, as part of the Fringe, from Thursday 6 May to Sunday 16 May.
Residents had to be evacuated from their homes after the crash and are spending the night in emergency accommodation.
One person suffered slight injuries in the accident which happened just after 6am.
The trailer became detached from the lorry hauling it, smashing into Avalon House, at the junction of Chafen Road and Bitterne Road West, Southampton.
The road – the A3024 – is one of the main roads into and out of the city.
It was closed both ways while emergency crews made the area safe and structural engineers checked for damage to Northam Bridge over the railway line by Bitterne Station.
The road closure created lengthy traffic jams as the morning rush hour got under way.
The circus had been performing at Mayflower Park in Southampton from last Wednesday (28 April) until yesterday.
It is expected to be open on time in Brighton despite the accident.
