ENDURING rockers Eric Clapton and Ray Davies could be appearing at next year's Swindon Festival Of Literature.

Clapton - who played in Cream and Derek And The Dominoes before finding huge fame as a solo artist - and The Kinks' frontman Davies, who have both recently written autobiographies are on the wish-list for festival organisers.

It is hoped Esther Rantzen, Melvyn Bragg, Carol Vorderman, and Booker Prize-winning Ben Okri will attend the 15th festival, which runs from May 5 to May 18 and starts at 5.30am on the Monday bank holiday with the Dawn Chorus in Lawn Woods.

Already booked in are Radio 4 presenter James Naughtie, who will speak on the history of music, Professor AC Grayling, who will speak on liberty and freedom, and Liddington resident Joel Joffe who will talk about his book on Nelson Mandela.

Tim Smit, the director of the Eden Project in Cornwall, historian Richard Holmes and Oxford mathematics professor Marcus du Sautoy are also on the schedule.

And there will also be poetry slams, a children and families weekend, talks and discussions.

Festival organiser Matt Holland, of Lower Shaw Farm, is now looking for a photograph to be considered for the front cover of next year's programme.

He says he would like a picture of Swindon's townscape for the booklet, which has a print run of thousands and is sent country wide.

Previous years have had authors, gardens and sunrises, but Mr Holland is adamant he wants a shot of the town.

"We would like to invite readers of the Swindon Advertiser, some of whom are clearly brilliant photographers, judging by the succession of stunning pictures that appear on the Adver's letters page, to submit townscape pictures of Swindon," he said.

"Pictures that will be especially welcome are those that are pleasing to the eye, and clearly say this is Swindon town, looking good!'"

There will be a £50 prize for the winner, plus a credit in the booklet, and complimentary tickets to key events.

Photographs can be submitted in hard copy to the Swindon Festival of Literature, Lower Shaw Farm, Shaw, Swindon SN5 5PJ, or by e-mailing a high resolution image to litfest@lowershawfarm.co.uk by January 18.

The full festival programme will be available from March 20.

To find out more call 01793 771080 or email matt@lowershawfarm.co.uk