Writers Will Self, John Hegley and Rageh Omar are among the names set to appear at this summer's Bradford Book Festival.

The two-week event, which ties in with the Bradford Festival, will be opened by star guest Rageh Omar, the BBC reporter who became a household name during the 2003 Iraq war with his reports from Baghdad.

He bypassed official minders to meet ordinary Iraqis and find out how they lived under Saddam Hussein's regime and when the war started he stayed in Baghdad to see at first hand the effects of the Allied invasion.

His vivid account of the conflict, the events in Iraq prior to it, and life there afterwards, was chronicled in his critically-acclaimed book Revolution Day.

The Somali journalist, whose boyish looks earned him the nickname "Scud Stud", will launch his new book, Only Half of Me: Being a Muslim in Britain, at the festival's opening ceremony at the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television.

This year's festival focuses on creative writing, with published writers leading workshops. There will also be family events, including a Teddy Bears' Picnic for pre-school readers.

Other acts confirmed include John Hegley, former Bradford University graduate turned best-selling poet and comic performer.

The bespectacled Luton poet, who will launch his new book Uncut Confetti, is a regular at the Bradford Book Festival.

He said: "I always loved Bradford right from the moment I came here to watch Luton Town play.

"I remember coming up here and seeing football studs that you pushed into your shoes instead of proper boots. That was literally down to earth.

"I came here to study European Literature and the History of Ideas, it sounded really flash."

After completing his degree, the writer liked Bradford so much he stayed here another year. "I used the Central Library a great deal and have some very happy memories of it," he said.

Michael Norton will be at the festival talking about his book 365 Ways To Change The World, a wacky handbook showing how ordinary people can make a difference with the smallest actions. Founder of the Directory of Social Change, Britain's leading agency for voluntary organisations, Mr Norton set up street children's banks in South Asia and, with Childline, a network of telephone helplines for street children in India.

Other festival guests include writer, actor and comedian Stella Duffy and Sophie Hannah, best-selling poet, novelist and children's writer whose first collection of short stories, We All Say What We Want, is published next year.

Bradford novelist and poet Joolz Denby will discuss her work promoting creative writing around the world and will also talk about her books, including her latest novel Borrowed Light about a Bradford family re-locating to a Cornish surfing village.

Book festival organiser Paula Truman said outspoken novelist and broadcaster Will Self was hoping to make the festival too.

"We're delighted with the guests confirmed so far, and there are more to come," said Ms Truman. "This year, for the first time, we're focussing on creative writing. There's a history of literary talent in Bradford and today there's a wealth of great writers out there, but there aren't enough outlets to encourage creativity. We have enlisted the help of published novelists to lead workshops for budding writers.

"The festival also looks at how books inspire us, particularly in terms of films."

More details of the book festival will be published in a brochure, available in districtwide public venues later this month.

l The Bradford Book Festival runs from June 20 to July 16.

e-mail: emma.clayton@bradford.newsquest.co.uk