The glitzy launch of Bradford's annual Book Festival could be summed up in two simple words - Absolutely Fabulous.

Joanna Lumley, who plays the chain-smoking, champagne-guzzling Patsy in the hit television comedy, was on hand to get proceedings under way.

The prestigious celebrity event kicked off at the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television last night with a red carpet "Literary Oscars" for some of Britain's most talented young writers.

The former Avengers star presented laptop computers to the category winners for short story, poetry, feature and TV/film/radio script.

Among the 19 hopefuls short-listed for the competition - aptly titled Yeh Write - were Jennifer Morris, of Baildon, and Joseph Doody, of Shipley, pictured with the TV star.

The panel of judges included comedienne Arabella Weir, star of the quick-fire television comedy, the Fast Show.

Joanna said: "As an actress looking at scripts, good writing is everything.

"If it's well written, you seize it. I read like a wolf, my family have always had books stacked up everywhere including the lavatory."

She praised the standard of writing displayed by the youngsters, saying she had been impressed by the "quirky humour" and some "charming poetry".

She said she had noticed Bradford was looking better than on her last visit 20 years ago when she performed at the Alhambra.

"They need to pull the police station down although I'm told they are going to do that," she said. "I love this part of the world."

Arabella added: "People send us in unsolicited material for the show which is amazingly bad, so I was very impressed with the standard in this competition. There were one or two where I really couldn't believe they had been written by anybody so young."

Jo, who submitted a radio script, and Jennifer, who wrote a feature article praising multicultural Bradford, were thrilled to meet Joanna although like many, disappointed she was not in character as Patsy.

"She did call us 'darlings' though," Jennifer said.

The festival, which runs until June 11, also features star performances from off-the-cuff poet John Hegley and controversial bad-boy author Will Self.

Other festival highlights include a host of poetry and writing workshops, film screenings and theatre shows.

Would-be novelists can follow in the Brontes' footsteps with a creative writing course in Haworth on May 17 and 18.

Budding sports hacks can learn how to learn to write a "fan's diary" with the help of Tom Palmer, whose reflections on following Leeds United sold thousands of copies.

John Hegley will give the festival's opening performance at Bradford Central Library today at 7.30pm.

Leader of Bradford Council, Councillor Margaret Eaton, said: "Bradford is known for being a culturally rich place and we are pleased to have created this national competition in the city."

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, Executive Member for the Environment, added: "Bradford district is already known across the world as a centre for literature, particularly through its connection with the Bronte sisters and it is a privilege to welcome such a wealth of talent to the city for this event."