By Jason Hughes, PA Sport

England's gymnastic gold medal winner Craig Heap may quit the sport and join the circus.

The Burnley-born gymnast, who captained the host nation to a successful defence of the men's team title they won at the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur four years ago, is tempted by the thought of swapping the high bar for the Big Top.

"I had auditions a few years back and passed, but until a job comes I'll have to just wait and see," said Heap, now based in Newcastle.

"It wouldn't be anything like the trapeze because I'm scared of heights - I'm bad enough with the high bar.

"I'd probably end up doing something that was a bit lower down. I might end up being the clown.

"But joking aside, it is something which is a possibility should I decide to retire after these games, but nothing's certain yet.

"I love gymnastics so even after retiring, I'd like to perhaps coach and show youngsters what a great sport this is."

England's team - also including John Smethurst, Kanukai Jackson, Cuong Thoong and Ross Brewer - pipped three-time winners Canada to the gold in a tight encounter in front of a partisan crowd at Manchester's G-Mex Centre.

Australia, silver medallists in 1998, finished in third place, while Scotland took a very creditable fourth.

England were considered one of the favourites for this event, which comprises of six apparatus - floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and high bar.

Going into the final round, England - who had been in front since round two - were just 0.7 points ahead of the Canadians.

But the home team produced five near faultless performances on the high bar to ensure Canada, competing at the other side of the arena floor on the pommel horse, never had the opportunity to sneak in and snatch gold.

It was perhaps fitting that Smethurst, who trains with the Central Manchester club, should be the man to clinch gold with the final performance of the competition, giving England victory by just 0.725 points.

The 25-year-old executed a release and catch perfectly before dismounting without any mishap.

Smethurst was soon surrounded on the podium by his four team-mates as the crowd rose to acclaim England's second gold of the games.

And Heap, who also qualified for Sunday's individual competition along with Jackson and Brewer, believes their success on Friday night will help to raise the profile of gymnastics, and attract many youngsters to the sport, which has benefited from funding by Sport England.

"There are more clubs springing up around the place, and more coaches who are passing on their skills," said the 29-year-old.

"I know the centre in Newcastle that I train at has just had £3million put into it.

"When I trained for the Olympics in 1996, the new facility hadn't been built yet so we were just in a temporary marquee structure.

"It was very cold and very basic but now there is a state-of-the-art gym.

"There will be more people pouring through the doors of that place now that they have seen us win gold."