DORCHESTER'S literary prowess of the past and present will be celebrated in the town's ever dedicated festival.

The inaugural Dorchester Literary Festival will run from October 23 to October 25 and has attracted a host of support with big names locally and nationally lending their support from the event.

The event is being organised by local antiques expert Paul Atterbury and writer Janet Gleeson.

They say that they have received great support from all sorts of people and the general reaction has been one of surprise that a town that the likes of Thomas Hardy and William Barnes called home had not had a literary festival before.

Janet said: "We are very pleased with how it's coming together, a cultural event in Dorchester is to be encouraged and embraced."

Paul added: "What has pleased me most has been the response from all sorts of individuals, with a lot of people saying 'at last it's actually happening'."

The pair started by contacting the major players from the local literary scene such as Tracy Chevalier, Lord Fellowes of West Stafford, Minette Walters and Jason Goodwin.

After they all backed the event they were able to go to major publishing houses in London and have attracted a number of other big names including Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan.

Paul said that Dorchester has such a strong literary history and there was so much local talent in the area, it was about time the county town had a literary festival of its own.

He said: "It's a great centre for writers."

Festival events include a portrait of Prince Charles by Catherine Meyer, a discussion between Lord Fellowes and Sunday Times columnist Danny Danziger and Tracy Chevalier sharing her Desert Island Books.

Other writers and speakers attending include Levison Wood, William Waldegrave, Saul David, Robert Ryan, Martin Johnson, Allan Mallinson and Dorset resident Kate Adie talking about her book Fighting on the Home Front.

The Dorset County Museum has also backed the festival and will provide the venue for many of the events, while Waterstones in South Street will also provide a venue and headline sponsors Duke's has offered space in its new premises in the county town.

The festival also coincides with half term and Dorchester Library will be running a number of events to engage with younger readers.

Janet and Paul said that the enthusiasm for the first ever festival had been such that they were already hoping it will become an annual event.

Paul said that they would welcome feedback from this year's event and hope the festival will continue to grow.

He said: "It's a learning curve for us and hopefully next year will be even better."

There will be a launch party for the festival on June 18, which some of the speakers will be attending.

For more information visit dorchesterliteraryfestival.com