A MAGICIAN who travelled all over the world with a circus troupe and now cares for children with brain injuries is sponsoring the Swindon Spitfires.

Mark Burford of Mark's Magic Mayhem is moving to Swindon later this year and decided to support one of the town's football club.

He said: "I've wanted to be in the circus since I was six years old, after my parents took me to a show. They found a troupe in London that had a workshop for children and I spent my weekends training there.

"One day, they offered to let me travel with them on a world tour, so in the summer holidays of my teenage years, I performed in Germany, Slovenia, Spain, and the Macy's Day Parade in New York City, which was really cool.

"I love it, it's really exciting, I've been in the industry for more than 12 years and everything's on the up.

"After finishing my exams and working at Legoland, I decided to combine everything I could do and set up my own business."

Mark juggles juggling, stilt-walking and magic with another job that involves raising a smile.

He added: "I'm also a self-employed carer for children with brain injuries. I think of myself as like Patch Adams and I want to entertain people for the rest of my life."

Mr Burford revealed how this sponsorship opportunity came about.

He added: "This is the first time I've sponsored anything this big but you have to take risks when you run a business.

"My partner lives in Swindon and his sister is on the Spitfires committee and they told me the team was looking for new sponsors.

"I thought this would be a good way to establish myself here and get my name out more - I've already done events at Trees Nursery.

"I'm waiting hopefully for my big break and other opportunities.

"I performed at a corporate event at the Sky Garden in London, doing close-up magic for businesspeople, and an agency there mentioned that it was setting up a kids event agency in Hamburg and I said I'd be interested."

The new home kit for the women's team debuted in their match against the Portishead Town Ladies earlier this month and the junior team's kit is on the way.

For more information, visit marksmagicmayhem.com