Bury St Edmunds Town Council is backing the town’s first literature festival and says it could become “one of the great British cultural activities”.

Town councillors Kevin Hind, David Nettleton and Richard Rout have provided funding from their town council locality budgets to keep as many events at the festival as free as possible.

Best-selling authors will join local writers at a series of events at the festival, including poetry and book readings, workshops for children and adults, networking events and a literature themed film screening.

The event will celebrate the written word and encourage children and adults to develop their passion for reading and writing.

Young authors are also invited to take part in a short story competition as the event encourages the writers of the future to develop their voice.

Kevin Hind, town councillor, said: “I’m glad that so many of these events will be free, thanks to the funding councillors from local authorities have been able to provide.

“It’s great that the organising committee could offer such a diverse range of events during the festival.”

Town Clerk Greg Luton said: “The Literature Festival could be the latest new-comer on the Bury St Edmunds cultural scene and we support it. All festivals start small, and grow. With local support, Bury can join one of the great British cultural activities.”

St Edmundsbury Borough councillors Diane Hind, Julia Wakelam and Robert Everitt have also backed the event, giving £500 from their locality budgets.

The festival takes place from Wednesday to Sunday, October 25 to 29, at venues in the town including Oakes Barn, Waterstones, Angel Hotel, Hunter Club and St John’s Centre, and will feature best selling authors including Louis de Bernieres, author of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin and Helen Callaghan, whose 2016 debut novel psychological thriller Dear Amy, quickly became a Sunday Times’ Bestseller.

More details on the festival line up can be found on the Facebook page/BuryLitFest and on Twitter at @bselitfest

Tickets are available online by clicking here or in person from Oakes Barn, or on the day – notices of events sold out will be posted on the Facebook page.