JUBILEE party organisers in Ermin Street have been cut a break by Swindon Council, which has reduced the charge it is making for their road closure.

Organisers of the Ermin Street party were shocked to be landed with a bill for £850 when they applied to hold a street party on June 3. The council waived a £50 administration charge but charged the remainder to cover the cost of drawing up a diversion route and providing traffic signs.

Party organiser Caroline Hunter said the council has now offered to waive a £155 fee it was going to charge for drawing up a traffic diversion route. She said: "I think they've done it because of all the adverse publicity."

Highworth Town Council is being charged £1,050 for the road closure for its street party.

Mayor Lynn Vardy said today that she intends to contact Swindon Council to see if they too can have the £155 design charge waived.

Swindon Council spokesman Lynda Fleming declined to comment about the decision to reduce the fee for the Ermin Street party. She said: "If they want to comment that's fine, but they are our clients and we are not going to discuss their business with a third party."