TOWN leaders want a blanket ban on a mass pillow fight expected in Swindon town centre next weekend, fearing it will promote yobbish behaviour.

They want to deal a heavy blow to flash-mobbers who posted an advert on the internet calling for hundreds of residents to battle it out.

The organisers, who fancy themselves as featherweight fighters, want people to gather by the Jubilee Clock at 11am next Sunday.

But Owen Lister, town councillor and governor at Bridlewood Primary School, Abbey Meads, has branded the prank "pathetic".

"The fact that we live in a society where people either spend their time watching television or doing something like indulging in pillow fights makes me wonder where society is going," he said.

"We already have events like Halloween and bonfire night, which are good traditional fun, but you have to draw the line somewhere.

"I want to see authorities put a stop to this because it gives vent to yobbish behaviour."

Mayor Peter Stoddart said that he would rather not see the fight go ahead, but if it does he wants it policed.

Similar battles, including one in London earlier this month, have been trouble free and organisers are not expecting any violence.

But a spokesman for Swindon College said she hoped students were sensible enough not to take part, fearing someone could be injured.

"It's not the sort of thing we want our students involved in," she said. "It's not socially acceptable to go around and do this."

To help stop numbers spiralling, bosses at Beds Direct Nationwide, on the Westmead Industrial Estate, said they may cushion the blow by introducing a policy to prevent the sale of pillows to anyone they thought might join the fight.

"It's the first I've heard about it," said admin manager Andrew Pearce, 30.

"I will mention it to the other managers to see if the company needs to put a policy in force."

Flash mobbing is an internet craze sweeping the world. It involves a crowd of people suddenly turning up at a random location for no real reason.

Swindon police were unavailable for comment.

Rules of the game

The rules of the latest event modelled on the film Fight Club starring Brad Pitt and Ed Norton have been put on the web.

Contrary to the blockbuster, instructions tell would-be fighters to spread news about the club.

The other rules are:

Turn up at pillow fight club venue with pillow hidden in plastic carrier bag.

At exact given time pull pillow from bag and fight.

Do not fight anyone without a pillow in hand (unless they want it).