VISITORS from as far as Africa and Australia have been flocking to a new must-see tourist destination: Highworth.

The “quintessential market town” on a hilltop near Swindon has seen a spike in tourists since opening a new Visit Highworth centre on its high street.

It features a museum, crafts shop and information outlet all under one roof.

Hundreds of people from abroad and around the corner have popped in to have a look since it opened in September.

Sylvia Kerry-Moore and her husband Paul Moore are two of more than 70 shareholders who helped to raise £23,000 to fund the non-profit business.

Sylvia said: “They have done a grand job, we love it and think it’s a great idea.

“We don’t expect any financial return on our investment, we just did it because we love Highworth and we want to help save it and see it thrive.

“It’s a lovely place to live with friendly people, interesting shops, a fascinating past and more to see than people realise.

“There are so many different clubs in this town, including history, gardening, art, and photography- and all of them have worked together to contribute to this centre, which is amazing.”

Her husband Paul Moore agreed: “There’s a lot going on in and around Highworth so something like this centre was much-needed.

“It’s multi-faceted and allows talented townspeople to show off their wares.”

On top of the shareholders’ contributions, an extra £28k of funding needed to open the centre came from grants given by Freke Norton, Highworth Lions and other organisations.

READ MORE: A look inside the centre and museum

The Highworth Community Partnership Group masterminded the project.

Chair Keith Smith said: “We weren’t sure that anyone would come in the visitors’ centre bit at all but I’m delighted with the response.

““Over 250 people came in on the first day, which was phenomenal. Visitors have come in to ask what to do and where to stay and eat which is great.

“It’s fulfilling its main purpose of encouraging tourism and has exceeded expectations. Though it’s a work-in-progress, it feels like it has always been here.

“Poet John Betjeman called it “a quintessential market town”, which could be a good slogan.

“We’re gradually increasing the number of volunteers that run the centre but it’s difficult.

“They have to be jacks of all trades who know a lot about local history for the museum, know a lot about the town and the wider area for the information centre, and be good at retail work for the crafts shop.”

READ MORE: Town's mayor explains why Highworth is worth a visit

Helen Lacey manages the shop on weekdays and is the only paid employee. Volunteer and committee member Sandra Rendall steps in on Saturdays while Helen is working at the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery.

Sandra said: “We’re very pleased with how it’s been received and we have lots of ideas, it’s just finding the time to organise them that’s the problem.

“We’ve had visitors from Manchester, Kent, Yeovil, Africa and our twin town of Wassenberg in Germany.

“We even had a few Australians in. They bought mugs to bring home to their family who are originally from Highworth.”

The ground floor of the former Lloyds Bank has been refurbished and refitted into the new centre after the HCPG bought the lease for the building.

The Visit Highworth centre is entirely owned by townsfolk. Its shareholders will meet at a general meeting next month to vote in a new committee who will oversee it going forward.

Enough funding is available to keep the centre open for the rest of the year, with extra income generated by a commission from each sale and community events held regularly.

However, grants and further funds will be needed next year to keep it going.

The centre is open 10am to 3pm Mondays to Fridays and on Saturdays from 10am to 2pm. Visit www.visithighworth.co.uk