THE Old Town Business and Professional Association has donated £500 to the organisers of the Old Town Festival to help with continuing preparations for the event.

The festival is the largest of its kind in Swindon and celebrates the extensive culture and history of the Old Town area when it takes place during the week of Monday, June 30 to Sunday, July 6.

The association has been providing support for the event for many years and the £500 provided will go a long way in ensuring that this year's is the best yet.

Money will go towards preparations for the procession, which is expected to bring out crowds onto Old Town's streets.

Harry Bromley, chairman of the Old Town Festival committee said: "This presentation is a recognition of how importantly the community and businesses in Old Town see the festival and its significance.

"We are very pleased the association is sponsoring the procession, which is one of the main highlights of the festival."

The cheque presentation was followed by the announcement by committee members that the first of the festival programmes have now gone on sale.

The small booklets priced £1 provide a full programme of events and feature a series of articles illustrating the history and culture of the Old Town area.

Although events are taking place every day during the week, there will be a small number of activities.

Among them will be the annual quiz and treasure hunt. The event is free to enter and forms will be available from the Festival Office and the Victoria Book Shop, Wood Street.

Other events include a performance of the musical South Pacific by Ray Dance and Judith Sharp at the Arts Centre on Devizes Road from July 2 to 5 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £7 or £6 for concessions.

Other events include rambles around the historical areas of Old Town and musical events at the Old Town Gardens Bowl.

For many the highlight will take place on Saturday, July 5, beginning with an extensive procession through the streets of Old Town featuring the Moloney School of Dancing, Air Cadets, Swindon Rugby Club, the Cats' Protection League, a small contingent of the Sealed Knot English Civil War Society and many other groups and organisations.

After the procession revellers will be able to retire to the Lawn where stalls for face painting, marquees and a fairground, as well as an arena of events will keep the whole family happy.

On Sunday, July 6 the fun will move to the Town Gardens and the Quarry Road Recreation Ground where there will be many more stalls and events, while specially-organised car boot sale will take place in the Quarry Road Recreation Ground.

More details are in the programme, which is available from the Victoria Bookshop in Wood Street and the Festival Office, which will be open from mid June.

For more information about the Old Town Festival call chairman, Harry Bromley on Swindon 344220 or festival co-ordinator, Terry King on Swindon 487154 or visit the website at www.oldtownfestival.org.uk