THE story of Swindon's canals is the subject of the summer exhibition at the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery.

It is run in collaboration with the Wilts and Berks Canal trust, which has been working to restore the old waterways.

The exhibition includes historic photographs, colourful canal memorabilia such as brightly painted metal pots and a scale model of a horse drawn boat.

There used to be two canals running through the centre of the town.

The Wilts and Berks was the first to open in 1805 and entered Swindon from the west, along the bottom of Kingshill, through the town centre and left the town from Stratton.

A few years later, the North Wilts canal was added as an extension, heading out towards Latton.

Accompanying the exhibition are a number of other activities at the museum. Today at 7.30pm, Neil Dowson from the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust will give a talk on the history of the canals, charting their popularity until the growth of the railways led to their decline.

From tomorrow until June 1, children aged between five and 11 can take part in the half term trail called Drifting Downstream. They have to follow clues around the museum to discover the name of the canal boat.

On May 30, children can learn more about the traditions associated with the brightly coloured paintings on canal boats and have a go at painting their own.

For more information call Swindon 466556.