A WORLD-famous circus has been banned from a North Yorkshire town after landing a helicopter without permission.

The Moscow State Circus performed on The Stray in Harrogate last week. But after a dispute over a helicopter landing on the site on the final day, the Russian circus has been told it is no longer welcome in the town.

Circus bosses say the landing was down to an innocent misunderstanding, and they are hopeful the council will reconsider its decision.

Patrick Kilburn, head of parks and open spaces at Harrogate Borough Council, said helicopters were not allowed to land on The Stray except for medical emergencies or Royal visits - they are meant to land on the Great Yorkshire Showground instead.

He said: "I am absolutely staggered that the circus landed a helicopter when they had been told last week in no uncertain terms that this would not be allowed."

Mr Kilburn said the circus had also breached the rules by directing traffic to park on the Tewit Well Stray, and ignoring council staff who asked them to stop.

"We do hold a bond from the circus, and if there is any damage to the Tewit Well land we will be retaining some of that money to reinstate the grass. They will also be formally advised that they will not be allowed to bring the circus to Harrogate again," he said.

John Haze, the marketing director of the European Entertainment Corporation, which runs the Moscow State Circus, hopes the council will reconsider.

He said the landing of a helicopter on the Stray had been a "genuine error."

Brian Austen, the managing director of the European Entertainment Corporation, had flown to Harrogate to give a live interview from the circus tent for BBC1's Politics Show on Sunday.

Mr Haze said there had been a misunderstanding and Mr Austen had confused The Stray and the Great Yorkshire Showground.

"We don't want to fall out with the council as we have always had good relations in the past," he said.

"I think the council will realise it was a genuine error and change its mind."

He said he understood the landing had disrupted a memorial service at a nearby school. To make amends, the circus plans to offer to perform a charity show at the school.

Updated: 10:54 Wednesday, May 12, 2004