TWO top names are coming to Bridport Literary Festival and by doing so will be supporting the restoration of the Literary and Scientific Institute.

Alexander McCall Smith and Dr Lewis Dartnell are coming to Bridport this autumn.

Tanya Bruce-Lockhart, festival director said: “With such high profile speakers we expect both of these events to be very popular so strongly urge people to get their tickets as soon as possible.”

Crystal Johnson, activities co-ordinator for the LSI restoration project said: “We are hugely grateful for the support of Bridport Literary Festival and the amount of time that Tanya has put into organising these events. "The restoration of the Literary and Scientific Institute is a major project for Bridport and we hope that work will begin on site early next year.

"We have very nearly raised the £2.6m required to fund the project, and with just £140k left to find we greatly appreciate the support of the Literary Festival in helping us reach that target.”

Alexander McCall Smith is one of the world’s most prolific and most popular authors. His career has been a varied one: for many years he was a professor of medical law and worked in universities in the UK and abroad.

After the publication of his successful No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, which has sold more than 20 million copies, he devoted his time to the writing of fiction and has seen his various series of books translated into more than 40 languages and become bestsellers through the world.

Dr Lewis Dartnell is a research scientist at University of Leicester, currently holding fellowships for both research and science popularisation. After a first class degree in biology at the University of Oxford he completed a PhD in the field of astrobiology and the search for life beyond Earth.

Alongside his research, Lewis writes regularly about science and technology for New Scientist, BBC Focus, Cosmos, and national newspapers, has a monthly column in BBC Sky at Night magazine and has won several awards for his science writing.