NEWS of comedian Dom Joly's indiscretions about Swindon have created a heated debate among town residents.

On Monday the Advertiser reported that Radio Five Live is to do an outside broadcast from the town after the Trigger Happy TV presenter, pictured - who lives just outside Swindon in the Cotswolds - told listeners of Anita Anand's late-night radio programme that he disliked the town so much he had programmed his sat-nav to avoid it.

Now Advertiser readers have been having their say, some throwing their weight behind the town, while others are rather less supportive.

One, who simply refers to themselves as Justice, said: "The sooner we accept Swindon isn't that great the sooner we can make it better.

"It's embarrassing getting all riled up, as if Swindon is some sort of Utopia. It isn't."

Another said: "Don't take it to heart. At the end of the day other towns get the same treatment, at the end of the day we must be an interesting town for them to even have a conversation about us or they have very boring lives."

One who calls himself PR said: "Swindon just seems to be five years behind everywhere else.

"I read in the Adver the other day about getting a big screen in the town centre, Liverpool have had one of those for years.

"I wish we could just laugh at comments made by these people rather than get all touchy and play into their hands.

"Also, if people from Swindon are saying how much they hate it, then please move elsewhere and see how you get on then."

Another reader, Martin, said: "The truth is Swindon is okay. It's not great, it just seems like any other town of its size - you can't compare it favourably with Bath or Cheltenham but it stands comparison with many other English towns.

"Most towns in this country are unattractive and not joyful places - it's the product of our industrial past and our post-industrial present."

After the show aired a fortnight ago, producers received a flurry of texts and emails.

Some agreed with his comments - "The best thing about Swindon is the M4 so you can make a quick getaway" said one - but others were furious about the comedian's diatribe.

The Radio Five show will be coming live from the town's Lava Lounge on Wednesday.