IS it a bird? Is it a plane?

No it’s . . . the man of steel Bernie Bennett.

The death-defying tightrope walker amazed shoppers with his act in Victoria Square, Bolton, on Saturday afternoon.

The self-styled superhero performed a series of stunts on the high wire while the Superman theme tune played in the background.

Bernie walked across the tightrope with a bucket on his head, sitting on a stool, and even rode a unicycle across the high wire.

Shopper Dave MacFarlane, aged 34, of St George’s Road, Bolton, said: “I think it was great. Bolton really needs things like this.

“It is something different which will entice people into the town. The lure of places like Manchester is quite strong so it is good to have something to make Bolton stand out.”