Ref. 25770-21SWINDON town centre came alive in a blaze of colour and pulsated to samba rhythms as the Swindon Summer Festival carnival parade wound its way through the assembled crowds.

The parade on Saturday was the highlight of the annual event, organised for the fourth year by Swindon Council's Artscape team.

Children from five schools in the town had been preparing for months, working with arts officers and teachers to create an array of awe-inspiring costumes based around a futuristic theme.

Performers from Swindon Dance joined with youngsters from the town's Afro-Caribbean Saturday Club to launch the parade with a dazzling dance display at Regent Circus.

Then as the Real Macaws festival band struck up an infectious Mardi Gras beat, the assembled carnival moved off to cheers from onlookers.

Among those watching were Keith and Sarah Soley, from Stratton, who had bought their grandchildren Lauren, 9, and Mollie Day, six, to marvel at the spectacle.

Mrs Soley said: "We came here today because we knew the carnival was going to be on. They all look wonderful, it is a great atmosphere."

Children from Robert Le Kyng Primary School transformed themselves into an army of silver robots.

Year five teacher Lucy Crossland said: "We worked closely with Artscape to create these costumes. We had an arts officer come into the school for a couple of days. It has been a lot of fun getting ready and the children are really enjoying taking part."

Others taking part were Hreod Parkway pupils who teetered on stilts, Lainesmead Primary School pupils who donned enormous papier mache heads, Ridgeway Secondary School pupils who donned their vision of future fashion and Salt Way School pupils who carried a large alien puppet around the town.

Music for the event was provided by the Real Macaws, Machda Sansaar and the Dholblasters, and a street samba group from Bishopstone.

The free festival also included an array of street theatre acts, ranging from ballroom dancing displays, an opera-singing robot, acrobatics, and a 20-strong Brazilian samba troupe.

And in Faringdon Road visitors were invited to step into the Luminarium a giant inflatable maze bathed in coloured light.