ONE of Wiltshire’s most singular festivals, which involves filling Sherston village centre with tonnes of sand, is ready to roll again this month after evolving into a five-day event.

Sherston Boules & Carnival will see scores of teams compete against each other in the traditional French pastime after the village is transformed into a giant “boulodrome”.

The tournament will take place in the sand smothered High Street on Saturday, July 11, but the festivities began yesterday (8) with a family-orientated beer and barbecue at Pinkney Park.

To get into the swing of things a skittles challenge will be underway at The Rattlebone Inn tonight, while tomorrow Sherston’s very own Village People will perform at the pub.

Bleary-eyed volunteers will shovel sand into place from 6.30am, Saturday to set up the boules courts as last year’s winners ‘Piste Artistes’ from Wales attempt to retain their crown during the day-long event.

Meanwhile, the Boules Day Kids Zone at the village hall field from 11.30am-4.30pm will have a space theme with rockets, aliens and astronauts and a planetarium.

French baguettes and pastis will be on offer at the French café during the day, while Morris dancers, brass bands and a spot of samba will add even more colour to the occasion.

Sunday’s activities will include the tug of war from 11am as teams compete for the coveted Sherston Cup while the duck race starts at the River Avon in Stretchline field from 2.30pm.