WIVELISCOMBE is holding its first ever literary festival this September, with an impressive selection of speakers and events over three days.

The town’s Community Library has organised the festival to thank local people who fought so hard to save it from closure a few years ago and their ongoing support since.

A total of 20 events will take place over the weekend of September 16-18, starting on the Friday evening with a free opening ceremony in The Square, with musical accompaniment by local group Wivelele.

This is followed by Heroes and Villains: An Evening of Crime Fiction with Morwenna Blackwood, Jenny Kane and PJ Reed.

Saturday starts with Steve Cole, author of Astrosaurs, Adventure Duck, Young Bond, World Burn Down and Doctor Who.

Steve will lead children on a laugh-a-minute, high-energy, ukulele-accompanied masterclass in Chucking imagination at words (aka telling stories).

He will teach children quick-and-easy ways to invent story ideas, share secret writing tips and reveal how he’s worked with astronaut Tim Peake to create Swarm Rising and its thrilling sequel Swarm Enemy.

The speakers on day two also include Adam Garland, providing a workshop and talk on the role of the illustrator, followed by Kate Darbishire detailing her experiences of self-publishing following her first novel for children, Speechless, which has sold thousands of copies since 2018.

A lunchtime presentation by self-published author Rhen Garland will demonstrate how she approaches the writing process for her murderous plots.

The family theme continues on Saturday with Susie Palmer taking attendees on a poetry-creating walk, Marc Vyvyan-Jones sharing his artistic expertise and Avril Silk helping those wishing to develop a creative writing project in any genre.

Local history features on Sunday morning with Bethany Askew giving insight into the Coleridges at Stowey followed by MasterChef judge and Telegraph restaurant critic William Sitwell giving insight on how Lord Woolton fed Britain in the Second World War.

The festival concludes with a Sunday lunch alongside Elizabeth Fremantle, a best-selling author of lyrical, atmospheric fiction set in Tudor and Stuart England.

She will be in conversation with fellow historical writer Catherine Hanley to tell us about her career, her books and the experience of having one of her novels made into a high-profile feature film.

Tickets are on sale from Wiveliscombe Library or via www.wiveylitfest.co.uk where the full programme is available.