A circus acrobat has fallen to her death in front of horrified families in a stunned audience.

Marina B died after performing the iconic trapeze stunt in Bautzen, east Germany. More than 80 people in the crowd watched on in horror as the woman plummeted to the ground.

Screams were heard at the family show at the Paul Busch Circus as police and emergency services rushed to the scene. A note posted on the ticket booth at the circus on Sunday read: "Due to a bereavement, the circus will be closed."

Parents covered their children's eyes inside the tent following the horror fall during the Spanish acrobat's solo performance. She died on the spot, police announced.

Marina B, who was from Mallorca and travelled around the world with the circus, was proud of her profession, and her tragic final Instagram post was an image of herself in full flight. She captioned the post: "Up here, I work best."

She said previously: "For me, every show is an opportunity to share my passion for what I do. I believe that art has the power to create unforgettable moments." Paul Busch Circus is yet to release a statement following the tragedy.

"Trained experts from the crisis intervention are on hand to suppose those who needed it. The team was immediately deployed and cared for the guests and other circus employees," said police spokesman Stefan Heiduck.

Mayor Karten Vogt expressed his distress at the incident and told MDR: "The accident has deeply affected us. On behalf of the city, I express my sincere condolences to the relatives and bereaved. Our thoughts are with the families and all those affected by this terrible accident."

The head of Germany's circus association Ralf Huppertz told German newspaper Bild: "It's unusual for a well-trained artist like Marina to not survive a fall from just five meters. Perhaps she got dizzy on the trapeze."