BOOKWORM-fever is set to take over a Cotswold town for a weeklong festival for the first time.

Shipston Bookfest is fast approaching with less than a week to go until local authors descend on the town. 

Already looking very popular according to the festival's director, this will be the first year for the event but will be returning if it proves successful. 

Alan Hurcombe, Shipston Bookfest director, said: "This is the first book festival in Shipston and we are very excited. 

"It will be a week long and ends on September 29. 

"A few of us got together at the start of the year and had a couple of conversations and the festival was born. 

"It's community-led in community project so it's different to other literacy festivals. 

"We have predominantly local authors from between Birmingham and Oxford but a lot live in the Cotswolds, it's surprising how much creativity is in the area."

Alan and Megan Hurcombe, festival director and marketing director Alan and Megan Hurcombe, festival director and marketing director (Image: Shipston Bookfest)

The festival will run from September 21 to September 29 and consist of more than 20 events, including Q&A's, a murder mystery and a dramatisation of a history book by the local amateur dramatics group.

Organisers held a stall at the Shipston Food Festival and received a lot of positive feedback.

For more information about specific events visit: https://www.shipstonbookfest.org/

(Image: Shipston Bookfest)

Mr Hurcombe continued: "Although there's no bookshop in town, there is a lot of interest in books in Shipston and so a bunch of us sat down and made it happen. 

"This is our first event so let's see how it goes but I think we would all like it to become part of the town's cultural calendar.

"It's all really exciting, tickets are selling fast and there's a real buzz in the town. 

"There's all sorts going on, Anton Lesser will be there from the Shipston and District Literacy Society and Thirst Edition will be holding a Sherlock Holmes murder mystery. 

"Some of our high-profile authors include Simon Mason, the Times book of the month author and Adele Parks. 

"We are newbies so we're a bit nervous but we are all very excited."