AN exhibition aimed at getting people into Swindon's empty homes is being held next week.

Swindon Council, together with the Empty Homes Partnership, is marking the National Week of Action on Empty Homes by holding an exhibition for the owners of empty properties who may not know what to do with them, or for anyone interested in buying to let.

A survey carried out in Swindon in 1996 found there were 1,600 private homes lying empty in the town.

Six years on, that figure is thought have improved, but there are still hundreds of houses which have not been lived in for up to 10 years.

The Swindon Empty Homes Partnership was set up to find the owners of these empty houses which can attract arson, vandalism and graffiti and work with that person to get the home occupied again, either by renting it, refurbishing it with the help of grants or selling it.

An exhibition being held at Steam museum next Thursday (May 23) is open from noon to 2pm and 4pm to 6pm. Visitors can get free advice from the National Approved Letting Scheme, the Inland Revenue, Swindon Empty Homes Partnership, residential services, the private lettings scheme, housing benefits department and the council's forward planning team.

Contact Sadhu Chahal, Swindon's empty properties and initiatives officer, on 01793 464412 for more details.