Organisers of Ilkley Literature Festival are asking festival-goers to share their memories as the event gets ready to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

A wealth of celebrations are planned as part of this year’s festival, which will run from October 4 to 20, including an exhibition, the development of an online archive and a reminiscence and writing project.

The festival began in 1973, the brainchild of resident Michael Dawson, and was launched by the poet WH Auden in one of his last public appearances.

Today, Ilkley Literature Festival stages more than 220 events for 20,000-plus people over 17 days each October.

Festival director, Rachel Feldberg, said: “We are asking everyone to contribute their memories of past festivals. However long you have been a festival-goer we would love to hear from you.”

For more details, visit ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk.