THIS year's Old Town Festival charity partner will be Wiltshire Search and Rescue.

The festival's committee members received a dozen applications from charities which wanted to be picked for the honour.

After whittling these down to a shortlist of five, including Swindon Carers Centre, STEPS 10-18, Dressability, and the Swindon MS and Neurotherapy Centre, committee members voted in a ballot and the county's search and rescue charity won.

Sarah Church, chair of the Old Town Festival committee, said; “It was humbling to hear from all the fantastic charities who were on the shortlist.

"Thank you to everyone who applied and took time to present to the Committee. As a community we can be very proud of all the important and varied work of these local organisations, and the legions of volunteers who give up so much of their time to support.

"This charity provides vital expert support to our emergency services, in complex cases when specialist resources and skills are required.

"From supporting in missing person cases, to flood rescue teams and even this time last year when the Beast from the East severe weather struck the area, these expert volunteers are on hand to help to ensure that key emergency medical personnel were able to reach their patients."

Adrian Edwards, the charity's chair, said: "We are here when our community needs us most, helping the emergency services. Fundraising, recruiting and training volunteers, and raising awareness about our work, are all vital to allow us to save lives.

"We look forward to joining this year’s festival, and do look out for some of the specialist equipment we will be bringing along."