Plans are underway to reverse the flagging fortunes of Swindon's Old Town Festival.

This year's festival, the tenth, nose-dived because of a lack of public support.

The usual three-day event was scaled down to a four-hour mini-festival in the courtyard of Fusion Bar.

But now organiser Terry King is keen to breathe new life into the project.

He said: "Things are going much better this time and we will be working hard to ensure it is a success. It was a disaster the previous year because one person was left to do it all.

"We are planning to have as large a committee as possible this time, to make sure that we can spread the load."

At an inaugural meeting for the Old Town Festival held earlier this month representatives from various residents associations in the area, Swindon Society, church and community groups, agreed to throw their weight behind the festival, and encourage others to do the same.

They also decided to make a new start with the event with a name change from the Old Town Victorian Festival to Old Town, Past and Present.

Mr King explained: "We felt it was time to change the name of the festival to bring it up to date.

"We would still like people to dress in Victorian costume if they want but they can also wear costumes representing any era, from Georgian to Teddy Boys."

It was agreed that next year the event should be for seven days culminating on the weekend of July 7 and 8.

"Although the details are yet to be discussed, we will be having some kind of fair in the Lawns area, a number of arts and crafts events in the town and a parade.

"We are also going to encourage all roads in the area to make their own banner which can be carried in the parade."

Mr King added that the committee will ask for Wood Street to be closed on the last day of the festival for street celebrations.

"We need as many volunteers to come forward as soon as possible."

Since its launch in 1991, the Old Town festival grew into a popular event, attracting crowds of more than 20,000 people in 1997.

Many donned Victorian costume to take part in the activities which included the election of Swindon's first town crier since 1910, Fred Ferris.

Music has always been one of the main features of the festival in the past and the event has always finished with a concert at the Bowl in Town Gardens.

Other activities included marching bands, jazz bands, egg and spoon races and apple bobbing.

A meeting will be held on Nov-ember 14 at the Kings Arms (7pm) in Wood Street where a committee will be appointed.

Anyone from the Old Town area is welcome to attend with ideas.