OKEHAMPTON staged a church service with a difference last Sunday — and what an experience it turned out to be!

Almost 600 people packed into the Paulo's Circus big top in Simmons Park, where Christians Together in Okehampton (CTiO) performed Risky Living — a show designed to get the Christian message across in a fun and informal way, that included clowns, street dancing and knife throwing!

The main act was magician, comedian and escapologist Steve Legg, whose performance illustrated his own faith and experiences.

Joining him in the ring were members of the eight churches in CTiO, plus children who had learned circus skills in a workshop held the previous day.

The Rev Darren Pike, of Okehampton Baptist Church, said: 'It was absolutely fantastic to see that many people come together, and to see the churches all working together in such a way.

'It was a great morning, we had a good time and I am getting such positive feedback from it.

'We will definitely be doing more big stuff together again — we have the taste for it now!'

Mr Pike said CTiO wanted to say a huge 'thank you' to Paulo's Circus, without whose generous help the unusual church service could not have taken place so successfully.

'They couldn't have done more for us. They got the lights and sound sorted, they were brilliant, and there wasn't a single charge for it.'