Snapped: Literature Festival Dawn Chorus 2014

More than 300 literature lovers gathered at Lawn Woods near Old Town in the early hours of Monday morning to celebrate the start of the 21st Swindon Festival of Literature and watch the sun rise.

During the special event, Festival Director Matt Holland unveiled the mascot of this year’s festival, the red tractor, and launched a special writing competition.

The event began with a performance on the bag pipes followed by circus skills with Tom and Jake the Juggler who entertained with flaming batons.

There were also performances from the Sun Arise Singers, storytelling from Rachel Rose Reid and tin whistling and rhymes from the Rainbow Faerie.

As a special treat, Vowley Farm provided attendees with bacon butties while the Coffee Gang took care of hot drinks.