STARS from the writing world are lining up for the Wantage Literary Festival, which begins tomorrow.

Highlights of this year's event in southern Oxfordshire include Miles Jupp, Louise Minchin, Diarmuid Gavin and Keggie Carew.

The festival's director, Vicki Luker, said: "We've got such an amazing line up this year and tickets are still available for most events."

Ahead of the week-long event -which also includes talks from Max Hastings and Sir Oliver Letwin MP; a Roald Dahl activity day; ghost walk and sing-a-long with Nick Cope - preliminary events have been taking place as part of an outreach programme.

On Monday, Sir John Mitchinson spoke to King Alfred's Academy for the 2018 Sir Christopher Ricks lecturer.

The next day, students heard from adventurer Sarah Outen about becoming the first woman to row solo across the Pacific Ocean.

And all week, Oxford author Mini Grey captivated primary school students in the area with stories.

Some tickets are discounted for children, via the festival desk in the Beacon.

For more information and tickets, visit wantageliteraryfestival.co.uk, or buy in person at Vale and Downland, the Beacon, or Mad Hatter bookshop.