You may not know about it and visitors to Swindon are unlikely ever to hear of the town's 48km Millennium Trail.There are a few path markers but no leaflets.

THE Millennium Trail was launched in a blaze of publicity, but few visitors to the town have heard of it.

And even the town's tourist office has run out of leaflets showing the full route.

Nicky Northam, 36, of Abbey Meads, stumbled on the trail by accident when she was out walking her two dogs last week.

Nicky, a mother of one, said: "I was walking by the old canal near Pembroke Park when I saw a gap in the hedge.

"I went through and I saw another path with a sign marking it out as part of the Millennium Trail. I followed it all the way to Purton and thought it was wonderful.

"At the same time, I wondered why I had not heard more about it."

Determined to find out more, Nicky, who lives with her web designer husband Jeff, visited the tourist information office for a map of the full trail.

But she was told they no longer had any copies.

"The only thing they had was a photocopy of part of the route from the Evening Advertiser's thisiswiltshire website," she said.

"It just seems a pity that the council has spent so much money on setting up the trail, but they can't produce enough leaflets for those who want them."

The Millennium Trail, which was launched in June 2000, is a linked network of trails that stretches 48km around the town.

The circular route was created by the Swindon Ranger Service to mark the new millennium.

The linked network takes in Coate Water Country Park, Barbury Castle, Lydiard Country Park, and Mouldon Hll Country Park.

Coate Water-based Swindon ranger, Mike Newton, explained that the lack of information was due to the popularity of the trail.

"It has proved to be so popular that people are snapping up leaflets as soon as we print them.

"Obviously there is a limit to the budget we are able to allocate for leaflets. We are planning to reprint a new batch soon which will feature different sections of the route."

Swindon Council spokeswoman Caroline Pike said black and white copies of the leaflet were available on request from the council and that a new run of leaflets would be available soon.

Chairwoman of the Swindon Ramblers' Association, Pat Crabb, said: "I think the trail has a problem in that it is too big for a lot of people to walk in one go. If you attempt small sections it becomes a liniar walk, which is much more difficult to arrange transport for than a circular one.

"Having said that, it is a wonderful route and well signposted along. I am keen on anything which promotes rambling in our area.

Anyone interested in finding out more about Swindon Ramblers' Club can contact Pat Crabb on (01793) 740450.