This is the shocking moment when two lions broke out of their circus enclosure in the middle of a performance scattering hundreds of terrified spectators.

TERROR AS BIG CATS ESCAPE CIRCUS BIG TOP pic.twitter.com/x2xERRVgQ6

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The pair managed to slip through a gap where two rows of bars met during the show in Luoyang, Henan Province, central China, on 15th April.

And within seconds, they slipped into a staff walkway approaching horrified members of the audience, say witnesses.

One was recaptured before it could get outside but the other stampeded audience members when it went for a stroll through the circus car park.

Footage of the escape – shared later on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, shows the lion apparently unruffled by the commotion it has caused.

Another clip shows the audience carrying children and fleeing in fright as they try to escape the fearsome jungle beast.

An unnamed audience member told local media that the incident happened at a matinee show when she took her child to watch the big cats.

Fortunately, staff managed to capture the second lion before any accidents occurred.

Another witness, who was also not named, said: “The lion came out of the circus employee passage, and the situation is under investigation.”

The circus was only recently set up and will be in town until 30th April, local media report.

The circus has not yet commented on the matter but local media said that it has temporarily been closed for business.