The biggest gathering of science fiction and fantasy fans in the country is set to beam down to Bradford next year.

It has been announced that the 2009 venue for the prestigious Eastercon weekend will be the city's Cedar Court hotel, and a host of events are being drawn up to make Bradford the centre of the universe for the Easter weekend as Eastercon celebrates its 60th anniversary.

There are also discussions with the National Media Museum - which runs a Fantastic Films Weekend every year - over a possible link-up, and a playwright with connections to the Priestley in Little Germany has penned an original stage piece for the event, which runs from April 10-13, 2009.

According to the website for Eastercon LX (60), "Eastercon is a gathering of like-minded people, from a multitude of different countries, who share an interest in science fiction.

"Fantastic literature is a primary focus of the weekend, but around that we also cover other media, whether it be radio, TV, movies, comics, the web or fanzines, taking the fringes of literature and serious science under our remit at the same time.

"It's not all talking heads. With more than 100 individual programme items, we have a huge range and variety of programming.

"There will be live music, film and TV footage, interactive workshops, gaming and role-playing, evening entertainment, quizzes, games and at least two Eastercon staples - an extensive vendors' room and an art show."

Peter Harrow, one of the co-chairmen of the event, said planning is ongoing, even though the event is more than a year away.

He said: "SF fandom gets a lot of negative publicity, but I believe people will be surprised by the depth and variety of what will be on offer.

"David Wake will be writing an SF play for the convention. David has connections with the Priestley Theatre, and my last visit to Bradford was to see Meeting Disorder written by David and performed in the Studio Theatre.

"The committee is also anxious to reach out to the Bradford community and one of the legacies we would like to see from LX would be the establishment of a Bradford and Leeds Science Fiction and Fantasy Group, similar to the Sheffield group of which I am a member.

"There are certainly enough fans in the area, it is just a matter of getting them all together. The Tourist Board is helping us out with publicity."

Guests already announced include authors Jon Courtenay Grimwood, author of the Arabesk trilogy, and American SF legend Tim Powers. Authors with local links, including Steph Swainston (The Modern World), who is from Bradford, and Charles Stross (Halting State), who studied at Bradford University, are also in discussion with the committee.

More guests and events will be announced over the coming year at www.LX2009.com.