LitFest 2019 will be upon us in just over a month, and Marlborough businesses are looking forward to the impact the literary event has on the town.

This will be the tenth Marlborough LitFest and many of the town's firms are excited ahead of the weekend, September 26-29.

Brewin Dolphin, a national investment management company who have an office in Marlborough, have been the festival's lead sponsor from the very start.

They have donated over £55,000 since the first LitFest, in 2010, and are a large part of the event's success.

Myles Palmer, Divisional Director of Brewin Dolphin, said: “As an office, we believe it is very important to be involved in local activities and we are delighted to have supported the efforts of the Marlborough LitFest since it started 10 years ago.

"The festival has been a great success and the committee always feature a fantastic line-up of brilliant authors.

"Over the years, the festival has grown in popularity and is now a highlight in people’s diaries as one of the best events here in Marlborough”.

An independent business that supports, and benefits from, LitFest is The White Horse Bookshop on the High Street.

The bookshop is the festivals's official bookseller, selling the work of authors who feature over the weekend.

Debby Guest, a staff member at the shop, said: "The festival is getting bigger and bigger.

"As it expands, it certainly brings more people into our town as well.

"Considering we sell the books of authors at LitFest, our sales improve over the weekend.

"LitFest is always fun, you can feel the whole town buzzing."

A 40-seater gallery space, at the back of the bookshop, is also hired out to LitFest for smaller events.

National fashion company, Jigsaw, has a branch in Marlborough which also does very well during the LitFest weekend.

Lia Curtis, the store manager, is looking forward to the 'bustle' the festival will bring to Marlborough.

She said: "Normally over the summer, retail stores can be quite dead as people are on holidays.

"But when LitFest is on, it creates a really good energy all across the town which I think encourages people to shop with us.

"We aim to not distract people from LitFest, but to support it."