AUTHORS and illustrators will descend on the village of Hawkesbury Upton today (April 23) for the second annual literature festival.

The Fox pub and Hawkesbury Methodist Hall will host a packed programme of talks, readings and workshops featuring advice and tips from novelists, non-fiction authors, journalists and writing coaches.

Highlights include a talk debating the book of the film or the film of the book (12.15pm) with film journalist Andrew Lowe, a panellist talk on the challenge of writing about people with disabilities (2.15pm), a poetry workshop with award-winning poet Shirley Wright (11.15am) and a chance to meet authors and artists Arthur Penn, Linda Alvis, Caroline Mockford, Lynne Pardoe and Sophie E Tallis.

Organiser Debbie Young said: “The venues for the 2016 event will be The Fox for the discussion panels and workshops, and the readings will be held in the peaceful Methodist Chapel.

"The Methodist Hall will be turned into our festival bookshop cafe for the day, serving literary-themed soups at lunchtime and teas, coffees and light refreshments all day.

“The local mobile library van will also put in an appearance for use as a storytelling venue.”

The free event is being opened at 10am by BBC Radio presenter Claire Carter and will close at 5.15pm with a tribute to Shakespeare as part of the celebrations to mark 400 years since his death.

There will be events for children all day, visit hulitfest.com for further information.