Singing town's praises, Jon Snow Picture Ref: 77450-18TODAY the Adver launches an initiative to stand up to those who see our town as an opportunity for a cheap laugh.

Somewhere along the line Swindon has become a byword for rubbish towns with programmes like The Office and Red Dwarf using it to comedy effect.

And this week fashion designer Wayne Hemingway said our housing estates were among the worst in the country.

But we think it's time to put a stop to people who think the Magic Roundabout is nothing more than a kids' programme making fun of us.

Those who haven't spent more than five minutes here might not see what's great about Swindon.

But that doesn't mean there isn't anything.

Good things come to those who wait, not to those who slip off the M4 and leave the town without winding their windows down.

And when you have stars like Melinda Messenger saying they will stay in the area because they love it so much there must be something going right with Swindon.

We may not have a state-of-the-art library and it's a few years since the County Ground played host to Premiership football but there is still a lot to shout about.

And with others all too willing to knock us down it's up to the people of Swindon to answer the critics.

In the past Adver readers have worked hard to raise money for cancer charities and to try and put a stop to yobs but now we want your help to spread the good word about our town.

We may have a fair share of housing estates and roundabouts but we're also surrounded by beautiful countryside.

And the Town Gardens and Queens Park may be only a few minutes walk from the town centre but they're a world away from the hustle and bustle of it all.

Far from a cultural void we have just witnessed the immensely successful Swindon Festival of Literature which gets bigger and better with each passing year.

As Channel 4's Jon Snow will testify the festival has become far more than a Swindon event and now commands respect as one of the best in the country.

The Steam museum continues to keep our proud railway heritage alive and attracts tourists from all over. The expansion of Swindon has also seen the town develop economically.

Levels of unemployment are about as good as it gets in Britain. What's funny about that?

And it's not just businesses who have spotted the huge potential in our town.

The days of having to go further afield to enjoy a day of shopping are long gone.

The Designer Outlet Village and the quality shops in the town centre ensure our residents are always looking their best.

And with plans to regenerate the town centre and hopes of a new stadium for our football team the future definitely looks bright.