THE big event in Wotton this month is the 'Under the Edge Literary Festival' - nine days of varied events, exhibitions and activities celebrating the written and spoken word at Under the Edge Arts.

From Friday 10 to Saturday 18 October, the Chipping Hall, Wotton-under-Edge, will play host to the various events which begins on the first Friday with the grand opening of the U.A. Fanthorpe green room, with Dr. Rosie Bailey.

The Festival continues with plenty of other events including 'Time let me play' - Brave and compelling songs from the poetry of Dylan Thomas (Saturday 11) ; 'Paralysed with Fear: the story of polio', with author Gareth Williams of the Jenner Museum (Tuesday 14) ; and Pop-up poetry with Chino Odimba (Wednesday 15).

On Friday, October 17, UTEA will host 'From Borchester to Beirut'; a writer's evening hosted by Simon Frith, Emma Crighton-Miller and Teresa Thornhill. This will include the announcement of the winner of the Short Story Competition.

The final Saturday, October 18, sees several events at the Chipping Hall, including from 11am to noon: Story telling and interactive session for under eights and their parents fromwith children's author Maria Little; a session for 8-11 to year olds with author Jessica Spanyol, author of the 'Carlo the Giraffe' books; and at 4pm: Book Talk for Teens with Popular author Jamila Gavin; author of The Magic Orange Tree, Three Indian Princesses, The Singing Bowls and Blackberry Blue: a collection of six original Fairy Tales.

In the evening, enjoy a complementary glass of cider with a Barnes & Adams pop-up Cider bar as you are invited to 'Cider with Laurie'

Throughout the Festival there will also be a drop-in book swap, children's treasure hunt (£5 book token for the winner) and the exhibition 'My Favourite Book'.

For more details, please visit www.utea.org.uk