SWINDON shoppers have the chance to boldly go where only a few others have gone before into space.

For on sale in WHSmith, priced at a cool £100,000, is a seat on one of the world's first commercial shuttles to venture into space.

Departing sometime between 2002 and 2005 from the USA, the Reusable Launch Vehicle will rocket 62 miles above the earth.

Once there, engines will be shut down for passengers to experience five minutes of continuous weightlessness against the backdrop of the Earth far below.

Assistant manager of the Swindon store, Richard White, says the cosmic gift is quite literally out of this world.

"I think if you received it on Christmas morning it would be the best present you could ever get," he said.

Mr White confirmed the trip was the most expensive item ever to go on sale in the WHSmith chain and added it was causing quite a stir among customers though none of the packs have yet been sold.

Including training, the trip will last six days, although the flight itself will take about 45 minutes.

The hefty price tag includes up to five yearly holidays for two at the Kennedy Space Station in Flor-ida.

There, passengers will learn everything about space travel in preparation for the trip.

The pack, which can be bought straight from shelves of the Regent Street store, also includes a flight voucher valid until the trip takes place travel vouchers, books, a certificate and CD ROMS.

However, potential buyers are warned they may have to cough up even more, as the £100,000 acts merely as a deposit and, of course, there is no guarantee exactly whenthe Reusable Launch Vehicle will actually get off the ground.

If this is a little out of your orbit, there are another 47 Amazing Adventure gifts on sale with price tags to suit all pockets. Most cost about £100.

They include Ferrari driving, skiing lessons with Eddie the Eagle, balloon flights and snowboarding.