"WELCOME to Swindon" is the message older Poles had for new immigrants at the Polish Cultural Day.

The community hasn't held a cultural day for 30 years and organisers felt one was due to greet the new generation of Poles arriving.

People who were forced to come to Britain in 1948 after Russia took control of Poland compared their circumstances with those of young Poles entering Swindon today.

Event organiser Bronek Rejek, who arrived in England in 1948, aged 12, said: "We have a lot of Polish people coming to Swindon and we want them to see what we can offer them and what we have here."

Traditional songs from young Scouts filled the room at the Polish Community Centre in Whitbourne Avenue, which was lined with stalls. Old video footage from past socials played on a large screen. Photographs were on show, as well as memorabilia and postcards.

It is estimated that 1,500 people arrived from Poland in 1948 with about 4,000 in the town now.

Polish Day Centre organiser Rose Murawicka said her native country has been transformed.

"It is very difficult for young Poles coming to Britain today," she said. "There is a generation gap between them and us. They are the new Poles - we are the old Poles. It will take time for them to accept us and for us to accept them.

"We want them to integrate with us - most of the current immigrants are younger people - they come in different circumstances to us. I am a war child. We did not come because we wanted to. We had no choice, as we were political refugees. When we arrived, we stuck together to keep our traditional and cultural activities alive."

Mrs Murawicka said she had made Swindon her home.

"I'm very happy here - I like Swindon. We are very grateful that we've been accepted here."

Alfret Ostaszewski, who was a member of the SPK(Polish Combatants) stood with his war medals beside a stall outlining Second World War history.

Group Taste, which is on a mission to turn Swindon's friendship agreement with Torun in Poland into an official twinning link, also exhibited.

Chairman Marek Sarnowski said: "Torun is historically and culturally very rich, which it can offer Swindon, while we can show them how to achieve economic success."