Planetarium and skate park amid free summer events

A mobile skate park will be set up, with tutors on hand to give advice

A pop-up planetarium, skate park and outdoor cinema are among free activities coming to Swindon this summer.

Wharf Green will host a range of events each weekend in August, with midweek sessions also held on Wednesdays.

The town centre space will be turned into a park with a large artificial grass area, as well as a space for hopscotch, a numbered snake and a running track - all of which will remain open when there are no events under way.

Swindon Borough Council's cabinet member for placemaking and planning Marina Strinkovsky said the events were a chance to "really showcase the best Swindon has to offer".

"We're hoping that one of the things that will come out of Summer on the Green is that loads of Swindonians will learn and find out more exciting and amazing things that are happening in their town that maybe they didn't know about before," she added.

The programme of events kicked off on Saturday with a creative arts weekend, including dance and song-writing workshops, bubble shows and face painting, followed by a celebration of South Asian arts and culture on Sunday.

The following weekend will focus on sports, with a mobile skate park and professional skateboard and scootering tuition, as well as fencing lessons.

An outdoor cinema will be set up on 16 August, followed by a pop-up planetarium the following weekend, with activities including a virtual reality flying experience and a fossil dig.

Each Wednesday, the Green will host further themed events, including circus, cycling and arts and crafts days.