About 150 clowns will gather in Weston in September

The International Clowns Festival, from 24-30 September, is held annually to provide contact between clowns and clown aficionados.

Festival convenor Andy Jeffery said: "We plan for at least 150 clowns from across the globe to be involved, providing performances, workshops, forums, outreach projects and the clowns parade."

There are plans to erect a 500-seat big top for workshops and shows during the six-day event.

The resort's Winter Gardens Pavilion - a former venue for the Green Party's annual conference - will also host workshops, talks and performances.

A showcase of clowning at the Weston Playhouse Theatre will star Clowns International life president Ron Moody, famed as Fagin in the Academy Award-winning film Oliver!.

"Clowning encompasses so many forms of entertainment from mime and slapstick, to variety entertainment and it has an universal ability to transcend language barriers," said Mr Jeffery.