31173-13SWINDON will take on a Caribbean flavour later this month. Around 14 children from The Afro-Caribbean Saturday Club will take part in the annual Swindon Summer Festival parade, which takes place on Saturday, July 17.

On Saturday, the group, based at the Westbourne Youth Centre in Westcott Street, held a workshop to put the final touches to the costumes.

Beverly Morgan, one of the organisers, is looking forward to a colourful event.

"The younger ones will be dressed as crabs while the older girls will wear dresses made to look like tropical islands," she said.

But behind the flamboyant colours is a serious message.

She added: "We want Swindon to celebrate all cultures. Events such as this help people to understand them."

Last year's show was a roaring success helped by Caribbean-like weather.

And one person hoping for a repeat is eight-year-old Chanelle Carty.

The youngster from Raleigh Avenue, Walcot, said: "I have been in this parade since it started three years ago. It's fun and exciting."

The parade will meet at the town hall at 10.30am.