BRADFORD is gearing up for its first literature festival, which promises to be the most diverse in the UK.

Comedian Shazia Mirza, TV personality Christa Ackroyd and acclaimed poet Lemn Sissay are just some of the big names lined up for the inaugural Bradford Literature Festival.

The festival, which runs from September 26 to 28, has a packed programme of 25 eclectic events across the city.

But as well as celebrating the written and spoken word, it also hopes to act as a bridge between different communities by offering a neutral space for dialogue on often controversial themes, such as British identity, conflict in the Middle East and faith-related fashion.

The festival has been set up by two local bookworms, but organisations such as the Arts Council England, the University of Bradford, Bradford College and Bradford Council have all got on board.

The weekend is designed to be a taster for the first full-length, 10-day festival in May 2015.

One of the festival directors, Syima Aslam said she was delighted with the range of events they were able to feature in their introductory weekend.

She said: "The depth and breadth of the festival programme is a first, not only for Bradford but also the UK.

"This is an exciting time for Bradford and the festival is a key component of both the cultural and economic regeneration of the city."

Co-director Irna Qureshi said they had both been bowled over with the support they had received.

She said: "I think people recognise that this is great for Bradford. It is a much-needed and important cultural event for Bradford and the fact this is going to be an annual event means it is brilliant people got behind it.

"It can then grow, so we can get the word out about the great things that are happening in Bradford."

On the festival's cultural diversity, she said: "It's not like we are trying to make a statement. That's how Bradford is, so a programme with that diversity in mind is a very natural thing to do."

The full programme is now available to view at www.bradfordliteraturefestival.co.uk.

Tickets are available through the website or at Waterstones in The Wool Exchange, Bradford.

Children are a big focus for the festival, with nearly a third of the programming devoted to children’s events, from author talks to workshops on staying safe online.

On Friday, September 26, an Enid Blyton-themed event aimed at school groups will see children join Julian from the Famous Five in solving a mystery.

Youngsters will learn how to crack codes, question suspects and test their memory at the National Media Museum's Pictureville cinema.

Later that day in the same venue, fans of the Beast Quest books can help the good wizard Aduro solve cryptic puzzles and free mythical beasts.

On Saturday, September 27, author-illustrator Steve Antony will be at City Library. He will give an interactive reading of his picture book, The Queen's Hat, in an event aimed at those aged three to six.

And best-selling author Karen McCombie will be talking about her 75th published book, The Girl Who Wasn't There, at the National Media Museum's Cubby Broccoli cinema.

A Manga and Anime comics workshop for those aged 11 and over is being held at Bradford College's David Hockney Building on Sunday, September 28.

And Lynn Schreiber will lead two children's workshops on the digital world - one on staying safe online and the other on starting a blog.

Bronte fans can board a vintage bus for a tour of Haworth and beyond with TV star Christa Ackroyd.

The self-confessed Bronte buff will lead the day-long tour of key sites associated with the world-famous sisters on Sunday, September 28.

People can visit the novelists' birthplace in Thornton village, take in the breathtaking moors immortalised in Wuthering Heights, drop in at one of Branwell Bronte's favourite drinking spots and spend the afternoon at the Bronte Parsonage Museum in Haworth.

It is just one of the events showcasing the history and literary heritage of the district.

People can also get a sneak preview of the Bradford Police Museum ahead of its official opening.

On Saturday, September 27, cop-turned-museum curator Martin Baines will show visitors around Bradford's original Victorian courtroom, now only used as a filming location, and the cells where criminals would have waited to be tried.

And on Sunday, September 28, Jewish history expert Nigel Grizzard will lead a walk around Manningham, known in the 19th century as the city's Jewish quarter.

He will tell stories of Bradford-born merchant princes such as poet Humbert Wolfe and artist Sir William Rothenstein.

Comedian Shazia Mirza will host an eclectic evening of spoken word, poetry and music performances in what looks set to be a festival highlight.

Performers include Romany traveller poet Damian Le Bas, singer-songwriter Katy Carr, Pakistani poet Atif Tauqeer, Israeli playwright and poet Atar Hadari, local novelist poet and artist Joolz Denby and Urdu poet Mehjabeen Ghazal Ansari.

The culmination of the evening will be a specially-commissioned collaboration between Lemn Sissay, the official poet of the London Olympics, and acclaimed tabla player Inder Goldfinger, who has performed with the likes of Ian Brown and Annie Lennox.

The event is at the University of Bradford's Theatre in the Mill on Saturday, September 27.

In the aftermath of today's Scottish referendum, a panel of guests from a variety of backgrounds will discuss this very question as they explore their own identities.

The discussion will be held at the Impressions Gallery on Saturday, September 27.

Also that day, fashion experts will discuss the connections between faith and fashion at Bradford College's David Hockney Building, and David Ward MP will be among a number of guests discussing the roots of conflict in the Middle East, at the Midland Hotel.

And an event at the Bradford Synagogue on Sunday, September 28, will showcase divine music and verse from a range of faiths.

Recitation from the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, Islamic spiritual music and the prayerful repetitions of the Christian Taize community are just some of the performances on offer.

Visual art will also make an appearance at the literature festival.

Photographer Peter Sanders will give a talk about his journey from a rock photographer, snapping stars like Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones, to a leading photographer of the Islamic world.

Peter Sanders: In Conversation will be held at the National Media Museum's Cubby Broccoli cinema on Sunday, September 28.