A POPULAR two-day book festival has announced top authors to join its impressive literary lineup.

Fairford Festival Book Fest returns next week and will commence with a short opening ceremony at 9.45-10am on Friday, June 8 by a group of young reading ambassadors from Fairford Primary School.

The pupils will be reading selected passages from books they love.

Later on in the day there will talks from two famous children authors (which cost £6 per child per author) in the Literary Marquee at Fairford Cricket Club.

There will also be a children's writing competition.

This family event offers a range of talks and activities for people of all ages to get involved with.

Seven well known authors including former Vogue model and journalist Sandra Howard and Paul Martin from The Great Auction Showdown are set to give some interesting talks on Saturday, June 10 between 9.45am-6.30pm.

Biographer Anne de Courcy, comedian and travel writer Dom Joly and historian Michael McCarthy are ready give some interesting insight into their successful literary careers.

Downton Abbey expert Jessica Fellowes and Emma Reeves, well-known for her screen/stage adaptations of the Tracy Beaker stories, will also be there.

The whole Fairford community will be getting involved in the popular festival, for example Emma Reeves will be interviewed by Isla Beadnell, a Year 10 media student from Farmor's School.

There will be audience participation and questions facilitated by Chris Roberts MBE in Jessica Fellowes' talk.

Additionally, Dom Joly will be interviewed by BBC TV Points West reporter for Gloucestershire Steve Knibbs.

Tickets for an all day pass on Saturday are £10 and are available to buy at Fairford Primary School, in 7a Coffee Shop in Fairford and online on Eventbrite.