BASKETMAKERS, wood turners and musicians are sharpening tools and tuning instruments in time for a feast of eco-friendly delights.

Swindon's fifth Forest Festival, which attracts more than 5,000 people from across the county, will be coming to town next month.

The free festival, which has just received a cash bonus to the tune of £7,000 from a South Western Arts Grant, is run by the Great Western Community Forest.

The community forest's marketing and communications officer, Alison Bruce, promised a fun-filled day for everyone.

"The day is a celebration of wood and is themed around forests, but the main thing is, it's a great family day out," she said.

"It's open to everyone, and there's so many things to see and do. And it's completely free.

Music fans will be well catered for. Highworth-based band Wrde, named after the Anglo-Saxon name for Highworth, will perform a mix of Celtic and international folk music.

Visitors to the event will be encouraged to walk, cycle or catch the bus, but a free park-and-ride facility will operate from Nationwide, in Pipers Way, to the Lawn entrance.

The event, sponsored by Nation-wide, will take place between 10am and 5pm at The Lawn, in Old Town, on Saturday, August 30.

The Great Western Community Forest, founded in 1994, is one of 12 such forests in England.