A HOST of best-selling authors will be on hand this weekend to launch the biggest ever Ilkley Literature Festival.

The event, which runs from September 30 to October 22, boasts a star-studded line up of top writers including Inspector Morse creator Colin Dexter, former Beirut hostage Brian Keenan, novelist and columnist Tony Parsons and crime writer Minette Walters.

Assistant Director of the festival, Claire Thacker, said this year's programme was the most ambitious ever.

"It's going to be fantastic - there's already a buzz about it. There's lots of great people coming along and hopefully the festival is going to grip Ilkley with a fervour."

Cult TV celebrity Richard Whiteley, who lives in Burley Woodhead, kicks off the festival on Saturday (September 30) with an appearance at the King's Hall at 4.30pm.

Fans of the Countdown presenter will be given a sneak preview of his new autobiography, Himoff! The Memoirs of a TV Matinee Idle.

And on Sunday, literary heavyweight A S Byatt, famed for her Booker Prize winning novel Possession, will make a rare festival appearance to discuss her work and premiere a specially commissioned short story. The Yorkshire-born author will appear at the King's Hall at 8pm.

Ilkley novelist Martyn Bedford (see our feature on page 15) will become the festival's first ever internet storyteller as an exclusive online short story, to be updated every week throughout the festival, is launched. To find out more about the first episode of The Disappearance of Miriam, readers can send an email to admin@ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk

The results of a poll in which over 300 festival-goers voted for their favourite three novels has also been announced this week. Top of the list was Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks, with Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice in second place and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte bringing up the rear.

"Birdsong was miles ahead by far and got loads of votes," said Ms Thacker. "But we did think there would be a classic in there so perhaps Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre aren't so surprising."

Festival programmes are available from Ilkley's Tourist Information Centre or by

ringing the festival ticket hotline on (01943) 816714.