THEY may be banned in many Swindon schools, but one shop in the town is inviting customers to its Loom Band Swap Shops.

Taking place between 11am and 3pm, at Hobbycraft, St Margarets Retail Pk, Oxford Road, the loom band event will run on July 19 and 26.

Loom band lovers are invited to come in store and swap their bands with other fans, as well as receiving tips and ideas from knowledgable and passionate Hobbycraft colleagues.

Loom bands, rubber bands that you can make jewellery and accessories with, are the hottest new trend in sweeping the country. The bands can be hooked together to create jewellery such as key chains, friendship bracelets and rings.

The trend allows children to express their creativity and use their imagination to create thousands of designs and patterns with a huge variety of colours.

Store manager, Naren Bhowal, said: “Loom bands are massively popular as they let kids get really creative before showing off their own unique designs. During the school holidays, kids won’t be able to swap their loom bands in the school playground, so we thought setting up a swap shop in-store would let loom band fans continue their hobby throughout the summer.”