THE Swindon Festival of Literature has been one of the town's great success stories so it is heartening to hear a leading councillor say it is time for it to be put on a proper financial footing.

Certainly a few months ago organiser Matt Holland, who has built the event up from nothing, and his colleagues were worried the council's budgetry problems might eat into their grant.

Fortunately that didn't happen, and now, if Councillor Garry Perkins, lead member for education and community, has his way, that situation will never occur again.

He is talking about long-term funding over three to five years, something which all three political parties could agree on and so take the issue out of the political bear pit.

Given the remarkable job which Mr Holland and his team have done this year their guest list includes Margaret Thatcher, Mo Mowlam, Chris Woodhead Terry Pratchett and Will Self it is the least the council can do.

Swindon doesn't always have a lot to shout about the festival is a shining exception.