THE ticket office for the revamped Arts Centre was set to open today, allowing culture lovers to prepare for the autumn season.

Due to be re-launched on November 11, the Devizes Road, Old Town, Swindon, venue has just heard that its bid for a £50,000 lottery grant has been successful.

The money will be used to further improve on-stage lighting, upgrade the IT systems and refurbish the Gallery Bar.

Shut since June, the centre has undergone extensive renovations to create a new courtyard approach and glass entrance atrium as well as improve access to the theatre via a customer lift.

There will also be a new ticket office, more toilets and a second backstage lift.

In the meantime, the temporary ticket office set to open today will cater for people wanting to buy tickets in advance for events in November and December.

Arts Centre manager Clarry Bean is delighted that the future is looking brighter then ever.

He said: "The work on the new parts of the building is so exciting, but we have been quite concerned that people will be expecting all of the building to have been transformed.

"We didn't want people to be disappointed when they found most of the building unchanged.

"Now, thanks to the lottery money and a £2,500 contribution from the Friends of Swindon Arts Centre, we hope to upgrade and redecorate the bar area in time for our re-opening. It's great news."

The season kicks off with local theatre group The Western Players, who will be performing Michael Cooney's farce Cash on Delivery from Wednesday to Saturday, November 13-16.

Other forthcoming highlights include comedian Lee Mack, star of ITV's award winning The Sketch Show, on Tuesday November 19 and poet Pam Ayres from November 21 to 23.

Musicians and singers visiting the Arts Centre include Stan Webb's Chicken Shack on Thursday, December 5 and The Animals and Friends on Tuesday, November 17.

As Christmas approaches, seasonal family fare comes in the form of Aladdin from November 26-30 and Alice Wonderland on December 19.

By contrast, the Old Town Theatre Company is offering A Christmas Carol from December 11-14.

Telephone bookings can be made on Swindon 614837.