SWINDON LITERARY FESTIVAL: STRONGMEN, trapeze artists, horses, jugglers, acrobats and dancers are not the usual cross section of personalities to be found in Old Town during an evening but they will be until Sunday night.

Giffords Circus has rolled into town as part of the Swindon Festival of Literature and has set up camp in Lawn Woods.

Inspired by the traditional circuses of the early 20th century, Giffords, which is based in Bourton on the Water in the Cotswolds, has been described as stepping into another world where everything is as it should be.

And the multicultural circus features all the usual acts associated with the traditional travelling show. French clowns, Ethiopian jugglers, Argentinean gauchos, trapeze artists, strongmen, dancers and acrobats all feature alongside performing horses.

For circus director Nell Gifford, 29, it is the realisation of a childhood dream. Although she read English at university, Nell ran away to join the circus aged 18 as an elephant rider, and has been on the road ever since.

She said: "The show has been really popular because it's a return to the traditional circus, We feel like we're reviving something from people's childhood and it's certainly unique.

"The show lasts two hours and I will give anyone who is not satisfied their money back. I reckon it represents really good value for money and we've not had anyone disappointed yet."

Nell has even written a children's book on the history of the circus and its founder, Philip Astley, which is on sale at the circus and at bookshops.

Although Giffords Circus has only been in existence for three years and tours between May and September, it has already built up an extraordinary reputation and next week appears at the Brighton Festival widely regarded as Britain's premier street show.

Tickets are priced at £12.50 for adults and £7.50 for children. Call (01249) 572573 or visit the box office in Lawn Woods for details.

SHOPPERS learned that there was far more to Swindon libraries than just books.

Staff from the town's libraries recruited new members in the Brunel Shopping Centre as part of The Swindon Libraries Festival Day Out part of the Festival of Literature.

They also took the opportunity to remind people that the new North Swindon Library, in the Orbital Shopping Park, opens next Tuesday.

Mother-of-three Kim Meldrum, 33, from Park North, is looking forward to the occasion.

She said: "I will definitely pay a visit to the new library. It is easy to forget how much libraries have to offer. Now you can even borrow DVDs."

Mrs Meldrum also intends to take her two-year-old daughter, Krystal, to the story time sessions held at the central library.

She said: "Krystal loves reading, so these sound great."

The publicity drive attracted people of all ages.

Music teacher Iain Greig, 56, from Old Town, decided to renew his membership.

He said: "My membership lapsed six years ago. I stopped using the library and bought books instead. But now I have realised how much more libraries have to offer, like CDs, use of computers and DVDs."

Tracey Downing, librarian at West Swindon, said: "The response has been encouraging. We have been promoting the less traditional library services and people seem really enthusiastic about them."

The Swindon Festival of Literature is backed by the Evening Advertiser.