MARCH 18: ACCORDING to one war correspondent, the centre of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, which was expensively redeveloped in the 1970s, now looks less like your typical Middle East city and more like the centre of Swindon.

BBC Radio 4 defence correspondent Andrew Gilligan made his comparison in a Sunday newspaper.

Abbasid Caliph Al-Mansur discovered Baghdad in 764, which today forms two vast semi-circles encompassing the Tigris River and is considered an early seat of civilisation.

Swindon - derived from the Saxon words swine dun meaning pig hill - was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, but it was not until the late 13th century that it grew into a small town with a weekly market.

The only markets in town now are the farmers' markets while in Baghdad the lively and colourful sight of street traders selling their wares is a daily sight.

But Swindon Council leader Kevin Small (Lab, Western) was furious at Mr Gilligan's suggestion.

He said: "This is yet another example of people with little knowledge having a go at our town. As someone who has travelled around and enjoys looking at other places I think we have a good and vibrant town centre."

When Swindon Chamber of Commerce chairman, Dennis Grant, was managing director of Business International - a company that sanctioned investment in Baghdad - he spent a lot of time in the capital.

He said: "To liken Baghdad with Swindon is a little unfair and slightly fanciful although I can see where people are coming from with comparisons of drab and faceless 1960s architecture, but believe me it's far worse in Baghdad because town planning just didn't exist. At least in Swindon buildings were put up with a modicum of consideration. Over there they were slapped together without any town planning."