REAL steam will breathe life into the beleaguered Steam museum.

That is the opinion of people who attended a 'have your say' day at the loss-making attraction over the weekend.

Kenneth Brown, 71, from Rodbourne Cheney, said: "It needs a proper steam engine. Real steam would be nostalgic for people of my generation and a novelty for youngsters."

Mr Brown worked at the Great Western Railway for 42 years, first as an office boy before climbing the ranks to become a senior technician officer.

His view was echoed by many others at the public meeting, which involved members of the Steam Task Group and the museum's acting manager, Tim Bryan. It was attended by about 50 members of the public.

Mr Bryan said: "The response is extremely encouraging. We know we have a lot of local support and this is a useful exercise to gather fresh ideas."

Catering and parking are the key areas needing to be changed, according to Ken Watts. Mr Watts, 78, from Stratton St Margaret, said: "Coming to Steam is an expensive day out because there is parking to pay on top of the entrance fee. Then there's lunch to buy. It costs more than £3 just for a soup and roll. There should be cheaper, plainer alternatives."

He also expressed a desire for live steam. "It needs live, standard gauge steam because that's what this place is all about," he said.

Richard Moore, 74, from Lawn, believes aggressive advertising is the answer. He said: "We aren't telling people about Steam enough. Bigger signs should be put up in shopping centres. It needs to hold more theme days to attract children during the school holidays."

Shane Smith, 10, from Bristol, was visiting Steam for the first time. He said: "It looks really interesting. But a real steam engine would make it much better."

This year Steam is expected to cost Swindon Council at least £575,000 some £475,000 more than it was expected to need annually.

Members of the Steam Task Group have put forward suggestions to stem the museum's huge financial losses, including reducing parking charges or making it free, changing the name of the museum, and developing the piazza area outside the facility. These recommendations will go to the cabinet in September.

Member councillor Gunter Gussefield (Con, Dorcan) said: "We need to bring in more people for corporate events to fulfil the site's potential. Besides being a museum, it has many more commercial uses."

Click here for the Steam Museum website