DEVIZES residents will have the opportunity to be nostalgic and watch short films of events that have occurred in the last 38 years.

Called Devizes Celebrates, the series of short films includes celebrations of the town's twinning links with Mayenne and Waiblingen in 1966, the 1967 Devizes Carnival, the restoration of the Kennet and Avon Canal in 1970 and the Queen's visit to Devizes in 1990.

The films were shot by members of Devizes Video Club and are being shown on Monday as part of the Devizes Carnival street festival.

The films will be shown continuously in the lecture hall at Wiltshire Heritage Museum, Long Street, Devizes, from 10.30am to 4pm and will last an hour. Entry to see the films and into the museum is free.

Dr Paul Robinson, curator at the museum, said: "The films will be absolutely fascinating to people who know the town.

"Few people will have seen all of the films and to see them all in one go will be quite exciting."

"I remember the film about the Queen coming to open the leisure centre in Devizes in 1990, it was a lovely day."

The films were specially chosen for the festival by the video club and they present a nostalgic look of how the town has celebrated over the last 38 years.

The full programme is twinning town arrangements with Mayenne and Waiblingen in 1966, the 1967 Devizes Carnival and the club's view of the area, Heart of Wiltshire in 1969 and Devizes in 1988, restoring the Kennet and Avon Canal in 1970, Devizes Hospital centenary celebrations and the Queen's visit to Devizes in 1990.

Thousands of visitors are expected to head for Devizes on Monday for the free carnival street festival