CHART-TOPPING band Steps has proved a hit with the people of Swindon as more than 10,000 tickets for this year's Wiltshire Festival have already been snapped up.

The Wiltshire Festival, at Lydiard Park, Lydiard Millicent, grows each year and for the millennium the promoters are expecting a sell out festival of 20,000 at the pop day alone.

Steps whose hits include 5-6-7-8 and Tragedy, are headlining at the Party In The Park on Sunday August 27.

The festival, which is being sponsored by the Evening Advertiser, is split into two with Voice of an Angel Charlotte Church and the English National Symphony Orchestra leading the crowds in a last night of the proms- style classical extravaganza on Friday August 25.

The Classical Fireworks and Laser Proms Spectacular will finish with a grand finale of fireworks lighting up the night sky.

On the Sunday Party In The Park kicks off at 4pm. Steps, who have nine top 10 singles under their belts and two number one albums, will be taking centre stage at the Swindon event as part of their biggest UK tour to date.

Joining the dance-along pop style of Steps will be the Vengaboys singing Oh We're Going To Ibiza and We Like To Party and Atomic Kitten whose hit See Ya shot to number six in the UK charts.

For full details, see The Evening Advertsier, Wednesday, July 5.