PREPARATIONS are well under way for a summer of open air film screenings in Swindon, which get under way next week.

The events will held at the Old Town Bowl in Town Gardens and kick off with Top Gun, starring Tom Cruise, on June 5.

It continues on the next two nights with Dirty Dancing and Anchorman. Then the following month film fans can look forward to Grease on July 17, Leon on July 18 and The Lost Boys on July 19.

Further titles for August and September include Back To The Future, Gladiator, The Goonies, Breakfast At Tiffany’s and The Big Lebowski, with one other film still to be confirmed.

An audience of up to 300 can enjoy the screenings on deckchairs and bean bags while sipping cocktails and other refreshments which will be served at the site’s bar.

Cult Screens, the company which organises the screenings, is coming to Swindon after enjoying success in Reading and Oxford with similar projects.

Phil Cottle, Cult Screens’ head of ideas, said: “Everything is going well and we are just looking forward to next week now, hoping that everyone enjoys the films and the atmosphere in the great venue.

“I’m really pleased with our offering and we try to offer films that will appeal across the board to a wide demographic.

“You can’t really go wrong with classics from the 1980s so that’s why we’ve tried to fill the line up with a lot of iconic films from that time.

“I’m anticipating there’ll be a terrific atmosphere at all the Cult Screens events and we just hope people come down, have a cocktail or two and enjoy the films. We like to create quite a relaxed vibe.”

The events will feature music before the films and if the weather gets cold there are blankets available so viewing isn’t hampered.

Phil said that there’s been lots of interest in the first screenings and he hopes Cult Screens will be able to hold their summer programme for years to come.

He said: “We’ve been growing and going to new places over the last few years. We think the venue in Swindon is fantastic and hope we’ll be able to come back again.”

For ticket information visit www.cultscreens.co.uk