A FORMER Brentwood School teacher’s show-stopper of a debut novel, which revolves around life in a ‘deadly circus’, has been snapped up by a prestigious publisher and will be released in June.

'Show Stopper’ is a story of death-defying acrobatics, cruel games and forbidden teenage love set in a deadly circus where the children of immigrants are forced to perform in a travelling circus.

Hayley Barker, a young adult fiction writer, mum, and teacher, said: "I am so thrilled that ‘Show Stopper’ is to be published by such a world renowned house as Scholastic UK - something which has always felt like an unattainable goal is suddenly really about to happen to me.”

Ian Davies, headmaster of Brentwood School, Middleton Hall Lane, Brentwood, said: ”Everyone at Brentwood School wishes Hayley every success with her writing career and all her former colleagues and students look forward to reading her first book. If the synopsis is anything to go by Hayley will have us all on the edge of our seats!”