THOUSANDS of book lovers descended on Chipping Norton for a weekend of literary excitement.

Organisers have said that this year’s Chipping Norton Literary Festival – which comprised more than 50 separate events – may be the best yet.

The festival, which ran from Thursday to Sunday, boasted 80 authors and star guests included Liza Tarbuck, Richard Osmond, Reggie Yates and Robert Peston.

Director Jenny Dee said: “This was the festival’s seventh year and of course you’re meant to say it’s the best ever - but I think it really might have been.

“It’s always been our ambition to make a literary festival that appealed to as broad an audience as possible but you have to build an audience and that takes time.

“We always start at the beginning – like any good book – and we have a whole range of events for our youngest readers.”

Events for youngsters included a schools day in which eight authors visited 16 schools in the area.

Now a tradition, the organises also publish a book of short stories penned by 10-year-olds.

There were more activities aimed at adults once the weekend got under way and the selection of guests went down a treat.

Ms Dee continued: “The majority of any literary festival audience is probably made up of middle-aged women and, as one myself, it’s really important that there are events that reflect our literary interests – but we need to make sure that we appeal to as many people as possible.

“When we had the chance to book Reggie Yates as one of our headline speakers we knew we would go for it. And at the end of his packed-out event when there was loud whooping we knew we had made a brilliant choice.

“We’ve had a whole host of household names from broadcasting, international best-sellers from the literary world, brand new novelists, cooks who make food that features in our favourite stories, writers who specialise in the natural world, historians, biographers, and three remarkable writers with medical backgrounds talking about life in the NHS.”

A big part of the volunteer-run festival is the town itself, with many buildings playing a role.

Ms Dee continued: “We are supported by so many shops and businesses, either through sponsorship or in kind.

“The fire brigade put up our flags and bunting, Jaffé & Neale book shop organise all our book sales, the health centre lent us their car park for weekend visitors, and a whole host of volunteers help to keep the festival moving along throughout the weekend.”