Tourist Information Centre manager Catherine Bowhill made sure she stocked up with plenty of copies of Bradford Book Festival programme when it came hot-off-the-press.

The event has attracted best-selling writers including Tony Parsons, Nick Hornby and Mo Mowlam and is destined to be a hit with people in the community and visitors alike.

It will be launched by author and Daily Mirror columnist Tony Parsons at Pictureville on May 11 and runs until June 16.

Book festival organiser Tom Palmer said there was a great line up for the city's fourth annual big literary event.

"Last year thousands of people attended and more than half of them had never attended a literature festival before. This shows that we are not just preaching to the converted, but spreading the message that books are great fun for everyone."

He added: "The festival is for anyone with an interest in books, reading and writing."

Also appearing will be history writer Anthony Beevor, poet Levi Tafari and home grown author Yunis Alam.

Copies of the programme are available at Bradford Central Library, Council offices and Tourist Information Centres across the district or by calling (01274) 754096.