Four men have been arrested by police in Wiltshire in what are believed to be the first arrests under the hunting legislation that became active on Thursday night. The men were found on an unclassified road near Malmesbury, with four dogs and the carcass
MORE work is planned for an historic Swindon park after a further injection of cash. The aim is to attract families back to Faringdon Road Park and to keep criminals away. The park was a place where people feared to go because of crime, vandalism and
76135-28YOUNG chess masters clashed in a battle of wits in Swindon at the weekend. Swindon's New College on Queen's Drive played host to the 19th Wilts and West of England Chess Congress and saw almost 300 youngsters tackle each other in this age-old
MINI skirts and the little black dress have topped a fashion poll as the most iconic clothing items ever worn. But fashion followers in Swindon think jeans should have topped the poll. The mini has periodically been the height of fashion since the late
76138-185A MAN who has destroyed worlds, conquered galaxies . . . and also helped children with their Green Cross Code visited Swindon at the weekend. Dave Prowse, famous for his role as the evil dark lord Darth Vader in Star Wars visited the Infinitely
MAY I ask if the number 17 bus that runs weekdays at 7.17am past the parade to Penhill is for the use of the public or just to give the drivers of Thamesdown transport a run out in the mornings? I ask, because in the last year I would have caught this
I DO wish the Evening Advertiser would not join in the rush to give the oxygen of publicity to the Royal Family. If some big-eared layabout wants to get married then that's fine, but I don't expect it to be plastered across my newspaper. Can't we just
PHYLLIS Durie what right do you have to call Mary Ratcliffe pompous? I have got to know this lovely lady quite well in the 10 years I have been a near neighbour and if you knew her too you would never have used that word. Everyone is entitled to their
WITH reference to the article on February 14, headlined "Residents fear return of yobs." What is going wrong with our society? I understand it takes six months to collate evidence before an ASBO is put in place. How much must this cost in time and paperwork
A GRAND Easter Sale will take place in Highworth next month. The Easter bunny will be putting in an appearance and there will be a raffle, bric-a-brac, nearly-new sale, jumble, books and refreshments. The sale, which is being held in aid of the Greyhounds-R-Us
LOYALTY to your firm is no longer measured by the length of service. That's the finding of research by Vodafone for the Working Nation study series, which found that according to bosses recommending your workplace as somewhere to be employed scored the
Home Ambitions has secured the sole rights for the Swindon area for a revolutionary new wire-free locking system for homes. The Centralock system locks all doors with one lift of a door handle. Peter Backhouse, managing director of the Wiltshire firm,
SWINDON has more jobseekers than average. Figures released by the Office of National Statistics for mid January show while the national average is 1.6 per cent of the working population on a Jobseeker's Allowance, the figure for Swindon is 1.9 per cent
STROUD and Swindon Building Society is holding a day to help pensioners learn more about how to cash in on their homes. The equity release day is from 9.30am on Wednes-day at the Regent Circus branch. It aims to help homeowners, particularly pensioners
YELLOW paint was sprayed on a car in Wootton Bassett. The Citreon Picasso was parked on Lime Kiln when it was damaged during the evening of Saturday and the early hours of yesterday. Anyone with any information about the crime should contact PC 1739 Wrona
76132-01ABOUT 400 Wootton Bassett residents are looking for new accommodation after accepting redundancy. The all-female group are living in temporary housing outside the town after arriving from Devon four weeks ago. Having been in an intensive industry
Four men have been arrested by police in Wiltshire in what are believed to be the first arrests under the hunting legislation that became active on Thursday night. The men were found on an unclassified road near Malmesbury, with four dogs and the carcass
76137-169BATTLING four-wheeled robots have taken to the streets of Swindon town centre in a fight of survival. Youngsters, parents and grandparents have been mechanically clashing in Canal Walk with the aim of flipping over their opponents' robots, just
ANOTHER elderly woman has been attacked by someone looking for money. She was the fourth woman to fall victim of an aggressive mugging in just seven days. The woman was walking her dog in the alleyway between Whit-worth Road and Fairford Crescent when
76132-01ABOUT 400 Wootton Bassett residents are looking for new accommodation after accepting redundancy. The all-female group are living in temporary housing outside the town after arriving from Devon four weeks ago. Having been in an intensive industry
YOUR SWINDON, YOUR VERDICT: ONE of Swindon's most impressive landmarks, the crumbling Mechanics' Institute should be given over for community use. That is the result of the Evening Advertiser's Your Swindon Your Verdict survey, which asked readers what
A race night in aid of the Christ Church Skyline Appeal takes place next week in Swindon. The Devizes Road Church Hall is to play host to the Christ Church Skyline Appeal Race Night and Fish and Chip supper on March 5. The event will raise funds for the
TRAVELLERS have to go a long way to find the safest country in the world, according to a new poll. New Zealand has taken the top safety nation prize in awards organised by independent travellers' magazine Wanderlust. "New Zealand offers freedom from worrying
STUDENT leaders have warned politicians not to underestimate the collective power of millions of students who will be eligible to vote at the next General Election. The National Union of Students said students made up about 13 per cent of the electorate
AN EXPERT in Irish studies is to give a talk about Irish migration in Swindon this week. Dr Graham Davis, course director of Irish Studies at Bath Spa University College will be talking about the Irish in 19th Century Britain on Wednesday, at the University
COUNCIL bosses will be accused of causing elderly people unnecessary worry over a massive planned increase in day centre charges. Jo Osorio, of Age Concern Swindon, (pictured), will raise the issue at tonight's full council meeting after the council u-turned
A SWINDON man accused of breaking into a house in Chippenham town centre is to face trial by jury. Timothy Powell is charged with burglary at a property on Queens Square on Thursday, May 6, last year. The 36-year-old is said to have taken jewellery, money
MOTORISTS are being asked to find alternative routes as roadworks start today. Re-surfacing work on Wootton Bassett Road between Kingshill roundabout and the Running Horse will mean a lane closure with temporary traffic lights from today until Wednesday
A GARAGE sale organised by a 12-year-old girl raised £100 for two local causes. Zoe Illing, held the sale in Wroughton on Saturday in aid of the Swindon and District Animal Haven in Wootton Bassett and the special care baby unit at the Great Western Hospital
COUNCILLORS will decide tomorrow whether parking provisions at a housing development in North Swindon will go ahead. Westbury Homes already has planning permission to build 75 new homes on land at Oakhurst in Haydon Wick but Haydon Wick Parish Council
COUNCILLORS will be able to give their views but not decide on plans for new homes on Kemble Drive. Swindon Council's planning committee previously deferred making a decision on the plans for 59 apartments and a commercial unit on land next to the Test
The Prince of Wales attended a church service without his fiance. He went to St Michael and All Angels church in the village of Little Badminton near his home in Highgrove yesterday. The service at the church, which dates from the early 13th century,
BUDDING Wordsworths, Keates and Tennysons are being urged to put pen to paper for Swindon's Learning Partnership. The partnership is encouraging people aged 16 and over to express their thoughts and feelings on the theme of 'Spirit of Swindon.' To enter
MICK Harford was due at the County Ground today to discuss a deal which would see him installed as Town's new assistant manager. With the former Nottingham Forest boss, pictured, having now agreed a settlement with the Championship outfit he is free to
BRITISH workers have been named and shamed as least likely to return phone messages. Companies are failing to capitalise on business opportunities by failing to return calls and messages. Marketing agency Heresy found British companies were twice as unlikely
THE Royal Bank of Scotland has appointed Sean Longsdale, as regional corporate director for the south west and South Wales region. He joined RBS in 1985 and In 2000 he was appointed regional corporate director for the Thames Valley region and has now
76077-34THE Swindon Initiative says it is now ready to make Swindon open for business. Under the chairmanship of Nationwide's chief executive Philip Williamson its aim is to promote Swindon and encourage further investment into the town. At a reception
76128-02CHILDREN had plenty to look out for at Swindon Museum and Art Gallery during half term. The museum ran the 'Objects Naturally' holiday trail all last week to give children something extra to do in their half-term break. Up to 20 children completed
YOUR SWINDON, YOUR VERDICT: WITH bans on smoking in pubs and restaurants looking increasingly likely over the coming two years it seems that Swindonians almost fully back the idea of no smoking. In our survey we asked whether smoking should be banned
A MAN whose son burgled his house three times in a week says he is trying to get over the incident. John Lamkin, 22, has been told he could face prison after admitting he burgled his parents' house and also went on a spending spree with his dad's credit
76084-35RESIDENTS in an elderly people's home have raised more than £1,000 for charity. The 24 pensioners who live at Heberden House, Bath Road, in Cricklade organised a host of events to collect £1050 for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance. Warden Silvia Osborne
Simon BirchSWINDON Council has been plunged into fresh crisis with the resignation of its chief executive, the Adver can exclusively reveal. Secret papers show that Simon Birch, who has been chief executive for two years, is set to leave his post next
POLICE have paid compensation to a family whose home was mistakenly raided by officers. Butcher Gavin Hollands and his wife, Dawn, both 33, were asleep when officers hammered on their front door early one morning last November. The father-of-three, who
A WALK around Malmesbury will be guided by Swindon's ranger service next weekend. The 'Church on Sundays' walk takes in the town's historic streets, Abbey and silk mills as well as the river Ingleburn. The walk is two-and-a-half miles and starts at 1.30pm
THERE will be a chance to sample some local produce at the next Cricklade Country Market. The market is at the Town Hall on Friday from 9.30am to 11am with home-made cakes, crafts and locally-grown vegetables all available.
MOST children who ride bikes have not taken a cycling proficiency course, research shows. A survey of 1,350 parents revealed that the majority believed their children should have to take a formal cycling test before being allowed on the roads on a bike
THE GOVERNMENT has moved to scotch speculation it is preparing to abandon its controversial liberalisation of gambling laws. The Gambling Bill, which allows the creation of mega-casinos, is due to be debated in the House of Lords tomorrow. A report quoted
FIFTY new homes could be built on Moormead Road in Wroughton. Barretts of Wroughton wants to build homes at Barretts Yard. Although the company is only asking for permission for the principle of building there, it has suggested it would construct 36 homes
WALCOT'S new councillor will attend his first full council meeting tonight. Peter Mallinson, was elected as a Labour councillor for the ward in the by-election held on February 3. The by-election was caused by the resignation of Conservative Laura Holiday
The safety of staff pupils and visitors at 21 schools in Swindon is to come under expert scrutiny. The visits by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Inspectors will take place on Thursday. Checks will be made on on-site transport, managing the on-site risks
TWO men visited a house in Salisbury Street with a ladder and told the occupant they had seen two boys getting into the house via a window. The two men entered the house and replaced the window on Thursday at 8pm. They were in the house for 40 minutes
RANGERS have been keeping with essential conservation work at Coate Water. Volunteer Rangers were busy clearing up and tidying the Old Bird Sanctuary. Bob Sharman, senior ranger, said: "Clearing scrub along the waters edge will encourage more light into
CHILDREN from separated families will be able to meet with their parents at a new centre opening in Swindon. In-sight, a supervised contact centre, will open in Milton Road on Tuesday March 1. The centre is part of the Family Mediation Service charity
A DOCTOR wants leaflets on sexual health and the dangers of binge drinking to be given to young people in pubs and nightclubs. Dr Kandy Kandiah from Sparcells Surgery in Midwinter Close, Peatmoor, thinks that Swindon's Primary Care Trust should produce
SWINDON Council's ice-busting gritting team will be on standby throughout this week after reports that snow and ice are on the way. Early on Saturday morning motorists were urged to slow down to 50mph by matrix signs between Membury Services and Junction
I am concerned about the safety of disabled scooter users who take their dogs for walks. There has been a lot of broken glass and I think it is a disgrace as it has not been cleared up for weeks. E Ruff Swindon
WASN'T there supposed to be a law against people riding their bikes in the town centre? Quite a while ago police said they would fine people if they were caught riding bikes instead of walking. But I see young lads cycling so fast they nearly knock you
WHILE I do not want to use this page to engage in a slanging match with anyone, I feel I have to defend myself against Mr Margetts' response (EA, February 11) to my letter. If he had read my letter he would be able to see that at no time did I suggest
WITH regard to K Ratcliffe's letter in Saturday's Evening Advertiser, I confess that I do not remember the 70s very well. I guess that I was too busy at school to notice Mr Ratcliffe's apocalypse. What I do remember is Swindon's railworks being sold down
