Ilkley Literature Festival is set to go off the rails - with a reader in residence speaking to commuters on trains.

The reader, whose identity has not yet been revealed, will chat to passengers about what they are reading and why. The idea is part of the link between the festival and its sponsor, rail company Arriva.

A spokeswoman for Arriva said: "This is the third year that we have sponsored the festival.

"We do it because it helps us build relationships with customers. It helps with communication.

"In terms of the reader in residence, there is an obvious affinity with reading and our customers, who read newspapers or literature on the train.

"We are match-funding the reader in residence with arts and business grants."

Dominic Gregory, festival organiser, said: "As well as the reader in residence, a host of other attractions should draw people to the event."

New writing from a glittering array of contemporary authors will also be given their world premiere.

The festival - the largest and oldest in the North of England - will showcase previously unseen work from such names as Will Self, Simon Armitage and Kate Atkinson.

Following a successful series of pilot commissions last year - including a performance from A S Byatt - the festival was awarded a national lottery grant of £14,000 to expand this innovative development in live literature.

As well as established authors, work has been commissioned from several unknown writers.

In addition to the unveiling of these works, many leading lights of the literary world will be attending to delight the visitors.

The renowned V S Naipaul will open the event with a reading from his first novel in almost a decade and Melvyn Bragg, Germaine Greer and Douglas Hurd will also be among those appearing.

Mr Gregory added: "This year's Ilkley Literature Festival has some very special events that you won't get the chance to hear anywhere else.

"As well as being a place to see the likes of V S Naipaul or Germaine Greer, it also gives audiences a chance to hear new work written exclusively for the festival by some of the UK's finest authors.

"Ilkley has long been known as a beautiful home to one of the country's best literary events and this year's event places us firmly in the premiere league."

The full programme will be announced on September 3, when tickets will go on sale.

At the same time, the festival will reveal its new corporate image.

The festival - which will include appearances by more than 70 writers - will run from October 5 to 21.