WOOTTON BASSETT is to have its first summer ice-skating rink right in the High Street outside the Iceland store.

The attraction is being put up as part of the town's medieval festival on Sunday, August 3, to highlight a winter sport popular in olden times.

The public is invited to get into the spirit of the festival by dressing in medieval costume for a contest. Judging will take place at the Cross Keys at 2pm where entry forms are available now or from the town council office at 117 High Street.

The festival will feature medieval re-enactment, with period workshops involving a blacksmith, cook, and weaponry, including longbow making at Borough Fields until 4pm. Medieval workshops for children and music workshop for teenagers will be run by Wiltshire Youth Arts Partnership.

Scarrotts Funfair will be open at the rear of Borough Fields, in the area backing on to Wood Street.

As well as strolling entertainers, jugglers and stiltwalkers, a programme of music will be staged near the Town Hall. Comedy from Hilarious Terry

Chamberlain will offer a festival warm-up from 11.15am and at 11.30am and 1.30pm the Big Sand Steel Band will begin an hour on stage. Companie Ho, a medieval style folk band will be on at 12.30pm and at 3.15pm. Melksham Pearlies will give two performances at 2.45pm and 4.15pm. The Choral Society will perform in Medieval guise at 4.45pm, before a folk band called Depart offers music from the 1960s and 70s.

At 6pm singers Heart & Soul and musicians Light & Shade present a selection of up beat Christian praise music. At 7pm a West Berkshire group, Session, who write all their own music, will perform prior to the Goodtime Jazz of John Currie's Hot Stuff at 7.30pm.

Special attractions at Stafford House will be children's story-telling sessions with Hilarious Terry Chamberlain, scheduled for 1pm and 3.30pm, and Taro the Jester, at 1.15pm and 3.45pm.

Wootton Bassett's Deputy Town Clerk Wendy Marchment said: "The organisation of this festival has been very much a team effort. Admission is free, and we hope everyone will come along to enjoy the fun."

The event, organised by Wootton Bassett Town Council and supported by North Wiltshire District Council, will be centred on a traffic-free area between Station Road junction and the High Street's mini-roundabout. The road will be closed to vehicles from 10.30am to 8pm.

A free park and ride for visitors will be available from Ballards Ash Sports Ground (on the Brinkworth road) from 11.30am.