REVELLERS are hoping for warm weather this weekend as the Stratton Festival gets ready to return for another year.

Festivities are due to start at noon tomorrow with a huge variety of activities to entertain visitors at Grange Leisure, in Grange Drive, at the third instalment of the popular annual event, organised by Stratton St Margaret Parish Council.

Councillor Joe Tray (Lab), chairman of the parish council and borough councillor for Penhill and Upper Stratton, said: "It's something that's put on for the community with the help of the community and it's a great day for the local people of Stratton to come along and have a fun day.

"While the event is free it is also an opportunity to raise money for various charities, and this year my charity is Prospect Hospice and there will be bucket collections at the festival for that."

Once again, Stratton-based brewery Arkell's has brewed up a special festival ale for the occasion, which will be on sale on the day.

There will also be offerings from Bath Ales and Hook Norton, as well as Circle Cider.

"We're very grateful to have Arkell's in Stratton and honoured that they have named a beer after our festival," said Coun Tray.

"We're very proud of our Arkell's pubs and very excited to have the ale brewed again."

The free event is due to be opened by Swindon Town manager Mark Cooper and Miss Wiltshire, Emma Briggs, along with performances from a cheerleading troupe before visitors can enjoy the range of activities and stalls on offer.

For the children there will be hair braiding, face painting and Colonel Custard on tour with his balloon modelling, circus workshop and magic show.

There will also be a craft tent, dance displays and a performance from Swindon Symphony Orchestra while for the energetic there will be Zumba and Power Hoop, junior football coaching sessions and American Football taster sessions.

At 4pm events will gather pace when a team of English and American football teams go head to head in a tug-of-war.

The evening agenda will see many local acts perform live music in the leisure centre until late into the night with acts including Soundbites, Ruff Diamond, The Ukey D’ukes among others.

Coun Tray said: "The festival has been a huge success in the past and hugely supported by the community.

"When I first came to Stratton they used to have a Stratton Carnival, but this stopped several years ago.

"Since we started hosting this each year it has been very popular and it's good that it is spread out over several days."

The festival is just the start of an exciting line-up of Stratton-centric events for the summer, the council said.

On Sunday, there will be a car boot sale at Grange Leisure from 8am to 11am, with sellers arriving from 7.30am. Bringing a car will cost £6, while small vans will cost £8 and transits costing £10, followed by Picnic and Praise in the marquee behind the leisure centre at 11am.

The following weekend revellers will also be able to take part in the Stratton Stroll among the local pubs from the Kingsdown to the Rat Trap with live music performances.

For more information visit www.strattonstmargaret.gov.uk