The man behind the scheme, Dugald Sandeman, of the Learning and Skills Council, said: "The people we are aiming the courses at are in whole, or in part, excluded from society.

"We can ignore that, or we can try and include them - learning which gives them greater economic and personal skills is likely to give them a better chance of rejoining mainstream society."

But Mr Flook, the MP for Taunton, has criticised the courses, saying: "Circus skills and African drumming are not what we taxpayers want our money spent on.

The travellers can have lessons in circus skills

"When money is short, as Somerset County Council tell us it is, it could be spent much more wisely.

"It should be spent on the granny who needs to go to hospital but keeps having her operations cancelled, or the man who has called 999 and had to wait an hour for help.

"It should not be spent on people who have excluded themselves, who have put themselves on the periphery of society," he added.

Many of the lessons will be taught at organic cafes in Street and Glastonbury, while others will be held around the campfire.

The courses are aimed primarily for travellers, although anyone can apply.