HEATED arguments broke out when members of the Flat Earth Society set up a display in the town centre over the weekend.

Intrigued and bemused shoppers strongly disputed the team's insistent and incorrect claims that the world is actually flat.

Harry McDonald is travelling to 50 cities across the country to spread his views.

He said: “The reaction has been mixed. Some have got violent, a lot of people laugh, and we've met many Flat Earthers.

“The globe has never been proven, gravity's never been proven,. nobody's been to space, NASA fake everything. Our end goal is to expose the lies people have been living."

James Grimshaw and his son James were in town from Ireland visiting James Sr's parents.

James Jr, 18, said: "It's so bizarre, you hear about people who believe these theories on the internet but I never thought I'd see them in person.

“They’ll probably convince a few people but the majority will just read the signs, laugh, and move on.”

James Sr, 40, said: "It's brought a lot of people out to have a look and a laugh, though I give them credit for having the courage to stand out in this cold and face all the ridicule."

Dan from Carterton popped into Swindon for an eye test when he saw the display.

He said: "The world isn't flat, that's nonsense. People are wasting their time on this when they could be helping a charity, which would actually make a positive change."