SOME of the most weird, wonderful and even breathtaking buildings in the borough opened their doors to the public during two Heritage Open Days.

Organised by the Civic Trust, the days gave the public a chance to visit some of the country's most interesting and otherwise inaccessible buildings for free.

The aim was to increase people's awareness of architectural heritage.

Over the weekend, the Science Museum at Wroughton was among the local venues to open up areas usually kept hidden.

English Heritage experts were on hand to give people the chance to see one of the Blue Peter lifeboats as well as some 20,000 other artefacts kept in storage.

There were also guided tours of the display areas.

Lydiard House, one of the Swin-don area's most renowned architectural treasures, also staged open days.

Visitors were charged nothing to tour the carefully restored former ancestral home of the Bolingbroke family, taking in its original furnishings and works of art.

More than 1,000 people visited during the weekend.

Sarah Finch-Crisp, Keeper of the House said: "Our special free events and exhibitions included a guided walk around the park with Dr Stephen Harding, a landscape historian and leading authority on Britain's parks.

"Bernard Phillips, an archaeologist, was showing off his finds and discoveries in our great walled garden."

She added that the Heritage Open Days were always popular because there was so much to see in the park, the house and at nearby St Mary's Church.

The chance to see inside the Royal Military College of Science at Beckett Manor House in Shrivenham was a real treat for many.

Visitors enjoyed a thorough inspection of the lakeside house, which dates back to the 1830s and features a central hall with a decorated ceiling and a 17th century fishing lodge thought to have been designed by Inigo Jones, one of the greatest architects of the period.

Other places taking part included Coleshill Model Farm, complete with water mill, the 13th century Holy Rood Church in Swindon's Old Town and, at the other end of the historical spectrum, the state of the art Cellular Operations building in Peatmoor.

Martin Bacon, chief executive of the Civic Trust, said: "Heritage Open Days offer members of the public a rare chance to visit some of the best of England's heritage. It is a valuable opportunity for people to get to know something new about the community in which they live.

"Not only can people learn about heritage that is right on their doorstep, but they can do it for free."

www.civictrust.org.uk