The Alderton Village Pond and Green charity is looking for funding to buy five more ducks for the pond, which is classed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There are more than 12 different species of duck on the pond at present and the charity would like to buy four more varieties.

The Malmesbury branch of the Royal British Legion is appealing for people to come forward with memories and anecdotes of D-day during the Second World War. The notes will be recorded in an historical document to mark the 60th anniversary of D-day next year.

Thieves broke into two pubs in the town in the early hours of Sunday morning. They gained entry to the first pub through an insecure door, stealing cash and cigarettes worth £370. They got into the second pub through an insecure delivery door and stole bottles of spirits worth £400. If anyone is offered a suspicious bottle of spirits for sale they should contact Malmesbury Police.

LEA: Entries are now being selected for the 2003 Battle of the Bands. The competition will be held in the autumn at the Rose and Crown pub with a first prize of £200. Entries must be original songs and should be sent on a CD or tape with a band profile to Monkeys Entertainment in Foxley.

The Blue Door art shop was re-launched as a gallery to showcase North Wiltshire artists last weekend. The gallery will be run by Kate Short and will display a range of ceramics, sculptures and fine art.

The Friends of Athlestan Museum have invited residents to a public meeting at 7pm on July 25 to discuss their views on the future of the town hall.

The meeting, in the town hall, will discuss the general future of the building and the old chapel building. The decision to meet comes after the friends launched a £200,000 lottery bid to help extend and improve the museum, which is also located in the town hall. The friends are concerned that the museum might be cut down in size during renovations to be made by North Wiltshire District Council next year.