SWINDON residents can thank their Rotarians for a new bench in Old Town.

The town's three Rotary clubs got together to provide the new bench to mark the centenary of Rotary International.

The seat is already in position in Wood Street in Old Town but will be officially handed over on Wednesday in a ceremony to be attended by ex-jockey Willie Carson and Peter Stoddart, the Mayor of Swindon.

Maurice Claverley, the president of the Rotary Club of Swindon, explained why the Rotarians decided to buy a new bench.

"This year is the 100th anniversary of Rotary International," he said. "All the clubs all over the world were asked to think about projects they could do in the centenary year which would benefit their communities.

"We finally decided that in Old Town there was no where to sit.

"People perch everywhere on windowsills and on walls but they have not got a seat. So we decided we would provide one."

All the members of the three clubs the Rotary Club of Swindon, the Rotary Club of Swindon Thamesdown and the Rotary Club of Swindon Old Town gave £30 per person to the project.

The stainless steel bench, plus the work needed to install it, cost nearly £3,000 but the Rotarians are hoping it will serve the town well.

"Hopefully it will last 100 years," said Mr Claverley.

A plaque reading "Given to the people of Swindon by the Rotarians of Swindon to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Rotary International" has been put in front of the bench.

The Rotarians have already held a church service in the Bath Road Methodist Church and Mr Claverley will hold a centennial presidential dinner at the Steam Museum in March.

The bench will be formally handed over to the Mayor of Swindon at noon on Wednesday the day Rotary International turns 100.

The organisation was formed in Chicago in 1905 by four businessmen.

The name Rotary came about because the early members used to rotate the meetings round their offices.

Today approximately 1.2million Rotarians belong to more than 31,000 Rotary clubs in 166 countries.