PLANS are already in place for next year’s Ilminster Literary Festival.

The event will follow this year’s inaugural event which saw 26 activities taking place across the town.

The 2017 festival will be nine days long, starting on May 31 and finishing on June 8.

Organisers have already started working on next year’s programme, with more emphasis being placed on involving local schools and community groups.

This year’s festival, which was organised by a team of Rotarians and business representatives, was attended by guest speaker, author and cricket commentator Anthony Gibson.

Mr Gibson talked about the literary inspiration in Somerset and read extracts from his book, With Magic in My Eyes.

After the last event, county councillor Linda Piggot Vijeh, said: “”The culmination of 12 months hard work, sweat and tears on the part of my fellow Rotarian, Brenda Lake, along with the support of her committed, yet diverse, team of volunteers. What a resounding success it has been.

“The appearance of the formidable Ann Widdecombe caused much excitement, and in her usual, very individual style, she kept the packed house at the Warehouse riveted during her interview with Malcolm Young.”

Reflecting the key aim of of encouraging youngsters, the final event of the festival was a poetry reading held at Greenfylde School.