FUNDRAISING and planning for this year's Old Town Festival is well underway, with organisers looking forward to a record year.

The festival is the largest of its kind in Swindon and is a weeklong celebration of the culture and extensive history of the Old Town area.

Organising committee chairman Harry Bromley said: "Plans for the Old Town Festival are well in hand. There is room for stalls and spaces in the marquee for the weekend events rapidly filling up.

"We are very pleased with the money raised by the dance. It exceeded all of our expectations. Now we are working hard on the procession. People have been very supportive.

"Now it's just fingers crossed for some good weather."

This year's runs from Monday, June 30 to Sunday, July 6.

Much of it is scheduled to take a Victorian theme, with various events throughout the week,culminating in a procession through Old Town's streets and performances of dance and music in the area's parks.

The official festival programme is currently being printed and should be available next week. Fundraising for the event has got off to a fantastic start, according to organisers.

Nearly £500 was raised last weekend following a performance by the Irish dancers of the Moloney School of Irish Dance last weekend.

The programme of events during the week includes guided walks around historic parts of Old Town, including Holy Rood Church, and places associated with the life and work of Victorian naturalist and writer Richard Jefferies.

Music, dance and theatrical performances will be given throughout the week illustrating the talents of performers from all over the Swindon area.

A revue by the Molly Tanner dancers and singers is planned for the evening of July 1.

The weekend events will include a procession of dancers and musicians as well as silver bands, scouts and guides. Last year the procession measured half a mile in length and included Queen Victoria Swindon lookalike Mary Ratcliffe in an open-top convertible.

This year's is set to take in the High Street, Wood Street and Victoria Road before entering Devizes Road and Newport Street, then pass along High Street and onto the Lawns.

The last day of the festival will see events taking place all day in the Town Gardens and Quarry Road Recreation Ground.

For more details about the event, call Mr Bromley on Swindon 344220 or festival co-ordinator Terry King on Swin-don 487154.