A chance to see a Dorset set film which will be attended by the author of the book that inspired it sold out in less than three hours.

The author is attending Bridport's From Page to Screen Festival on Wednesday, April 11 to promote the release of On Chesil Beach, the film adaptation of his book.

There were queues on the forecourt at Bridport Arts Centre as people waited for tickets to see the much-anticipated adaptation on the big screen, where Mr McEwan is the guest speaker.

The book, published in 2007, was short-listed for the Booker Prize, gained glowing reviews and become a best seller.

The film starts Saoirse Ronan, who earned her first Oscar nomination aged just 12 for her portrayal of Briony Tallis in Atonement.

Saoirse plays the character Florence in the film, one of the central characters of On Chesil Beach.

She will star alongside Billy Howle as Edward, Anne Marie Duff and Emily Watson.

Florence and Edward are university graduates from drastically different backgrounds who spend their wedding night in a stuffy, sedate hotel near Chesil Beach.

Fans who missed out on tickets have been reassured by the organisers, who have announced a special screening of Mr McEwan's 'The Comfort of Strangers' on Wednesday, April 11.

Mr McEwan will be at this event as a guest speaker talking about the process of adapting his books into film.

Several of Mr McEwan's novels have been adapted into films.
The Comfort of Strangers will be screened at Bridport Arts Centre on Wednesday, April 11 from 5pm.

For more information or tickets, visit bridport-arts.com or call 01308 424204.