UNCOVERING the canal, a good-sized music venue and a thorough clean up are what's needed to revive Swindon's rundown town centre, according to readers.

We asked them on social media what they thought was the one thing it needs that it doesn't have right now.

And among the ironic suggestions that it should be razed to the ground were calls for a range of facilities to attract the public back to the area.

Here are just a few of their views...

Ian Cooke: "Open the canal to create a bar and café culture."

Natasha Roper Pitts: "Too many eateries last time I went in to get my teenage boy some affordable yet fashionable clothes I couldn't find anything, very disappointing. Everywhere I looked it was coffee shops and food outlets. These have a place but we need a balance."

Jean Ravenscroft: "I lived in Swindon for over 60 years, it was a great place to grow up, lots of different shops, and the people were friendly and lots of other kids to play with.

"The shops disappeared over the years, the railway works closed, and Swindon lost it heart. It would be so nice to see it have a new lease of life."

Annmarie Flannery Marshall: "More decent shops and some little independent shops. No more coffee, £1, mobile shops, we have enough.

"It would be lovely to have the canal running through again like what Reading has done at the Oracle with shops and eateries. Lots of money needs to be pumped into the town centre with acceptable rates which may entice business back into the centre.

"It’s obvious what is needed but those so called in charge either don’t listen or don’t want to listen."

Chris Coling: "Purpose. I have absolutely no reason to go there. Make it attractive, useful, clean, safe, and different."

Helen Margaret Lane: "A good old clean especially around the bus station, looks a right mess, a decently sized music venue with about 18,000 capacity so decent bands come, much easier to see than London all the time."

Frank Reynolds: "A unicorn farm and a fairy castle to fit in with the current plans to 'rejuvenate' the area."

Claire Jones: "They need to look at other town centre shops for example The Lexicon in Bracknell. They have many different areas where children can enjoy, Lego sculptures, animals dotted throughout the centre, interactive and sensory areas where children can play and where parents can sit and relax in.

"Maybe a chocolate shop Le chocolate / milkshake cafe. A cleaning service to keep it tidy with no litter."

Mandy Mercer: "A games area for youngsters like they have in West Swindon with pool tables, bowling etc. Morrisons vacant store should be used."

James Bowyer: "Free parking. Business won’t thrive when people won’t come to Swindon centre because they can park elsewhere for free.

"But, the council owns the car park, and despite pleas from the Brunel centre, will not allow any sort of parking discounts."

Lisa Reed: "An atmosphere. A green play area, alfresco dining. Colour. No point adding more shops people are not making use of them."

Mary Telling: "Went into town today, not a very usual thing but wanted a special 70th birthday card. Went to Clintons got the card then told last week of trading. Asked why, said the rent is too expensive. Bloody ridiculous better to have no rent empty shops than a cheaper rent but more shops, what a joke."

Jane Aldred: "A market as this would bring in a lot of people but it needs to be inside."

Steve Smith: "Why can't they resurrect the tent market, the structure is there, just some refurbishing required. Other nearby towns ie Oxford, Bath have successful ones."