BUDDING authors and book enthusiasts will pour into Marlborough this weekend to see some of the bestselling writers at Marlborough’s sixth annual LitFest.

There are more than 25 events lined up around the town from tomorrow (Friday) until Sunday, so book lovers can get their literary fill and hear from authors such as Alexander McCall Smith, who wrote The No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, and veteran journalist Jon Snow who will be interviewing Peter Kosminsky who directed the BBC Wolf Hall series.

Medieval historian and Magna Carta expert Sean McGlynn will kick off the festival tomorrow (Friday) at the Town Hall from 5pm, followed by this year’s Golding Speaker Salley Vickers at 7.30pm. Bringing the festival to a close will be poet Gillian Clarke at Marlborough College on Sunday at 7.30pm.

The LitFest bill boats a mix of fiction and non-fiction, poetry, children’s events and creative writing workshops for adults and teenagers.

Sixth form students from St John’s in Marlborough have also stepped in to replace author Adam Thorpe, who can no longer attend, on Saturday from 1.30pm in St Mary’s Church Hall. The students will be discussing a 20 minute film they made about books and reading as well as austerity measure by the government such as cutbacks to libraries.

Freya Pigott, St John’s sixth former and co-organiser, said: "It is crucial that young people are involved in events such as Marlborough LitFest, as so often young people go unheard.”

Waitrose is once again supporting the festival by donating buns so book lovers can have a sweet pit stop in between seeing the host of authors.

The LitFest Café will be open throughout the festival this weekend at the Town Hall, offering tea, coffee and homemade cakes as well as the Marlborough Buns.

The White Horse Bookshop will also run a bookstall next to the café for browsing and buying books written by visiting LitFest authors.

Today (Thursday), the big school read at St John’s Academy is taking place and author Sarah Singleton, who is a former Gazette author, will be quizzed by Year 8 students from St John’s, Marlborough College, Pewsey Vale and St Francis School about her book Century.

Tickets and programmes are available from The White Horse Bookshop, Marlborough High Street, or Pound Arts: (01249) 701628 / 712618 (www.poundarts.org.uk/). For further information, visit www.marlboroughlitfest.org