DEVIZES Market Place was bubbling over on Tuesday morning after washing up liquid was squirted into the fountain.

Shoppers were amazed to see suds cascading down from the top of the monument days after the town was treated to a feast of unusual spectacles during Carnival 2000.

Feelings were mixed, some condemning it as vandalism and others thinking it a bit of light-hearted fun.

Visitors John and Maisie Wright, from Barnet, north London, said: It seems a shame to spoil a lovely town like Devizes in this way. Carol Rose, from Devizes, said: Well, it's different. People might think we've had a fall of snow!

Town council parks superintendent Michael Aiston said the fountain had been emptied to stop carnival revellers mucking about in the water.

It had been refilled but without the chemicals normally put in to stop the water foaming should soap be poured in.

I don't think they knew that was the case. They just tried their luck, he added.