A QUIRKY floating cinema has arrived in Wiltshire on the Kennet and Avon Canal as part of a tour around the country.

It started its journey from London earlier this month and is looping the locks to Bristol and back again, stopping off a various locations. The converted barge is offering a programme of film screenings, performances, talks and events for communities along the route.

The first stop-off venue in the county was at Crofton Pumping Station near Marlborough yesterday. Film buffs gathered to relax on the boat and watch an on-board screening of water archive film, Barging through London.

Later that evening, visitors enjoyed an exciting performance and open air film called All Smoke & Mirrors that used archive film, music and digital projection to animate the Crofton Beam Engines and the grounds.

The floating cinema’s next stop is The Barge Inn at Honeystreet on Saturday. From 6pm there will be a documentary exploring crop circles which shows circlemaker, artist and author Dr Rob Irving discussing the art, history and philosophy behind them.

The Film that Buys the Cinema, a collection of 70 artists’ short films, will also be shown afterwards at 8pm.

It will also be mooring at Devizes, Caen Hill and Bradford on Avon.

The theme of the showings will celebrate and explore the rich diversity of urban and rural living, a slower pace of life and encourages a playful discovery of local landscapes and heritage through archive film and sound.

All events are free but should be booked in advance at the Floating Cinema website - www.floatingcinema.info

The tour is curated by UP Projects with artist duo Nina Pope and Karen Guthrie and supported by the BFI; awarding funds from The National Lottery, Arts Council England and Canal & River Trust.