A POPULAR literature festival is set to shake off the winter blues.

Returning for an impressive 13th year, the Bridport Literary Festival - BridLit as it is now affectionately referred to - will kick off with Billy Bragg in conversation with Chris Huxley about his new book: Roots, Radicals and Rockers: How Skiffle Changed the World.

There will also be talks from famous figures including Chris Bonington, Kate Adie, Peter Snow and Lord Patten.

Dorset's many local writers will play their part in the festival, with events with Jason Goodwin, Horatio Morpurgo, Bijan Omrani, Boris Starling and Robert Twigger.

There will be an opportunity across the 10-day festival to catch a huge variety of writers, including Veteran war correspondents include Kate Adie, Martin Bell and Peter Snow and political journalists include Quentin Letts, Douglas Murray and Steve Richards. The Oldie magazine is hosting a literary lunch at the Seaside Boarding House and BridLit president, Julian Fellowes, is guest speaker at the annual dinner at The Bull Hotel.

Children’s events include the Waterstones children’s laureate Chris Riddell, writer and illustrator of the Goth Girl series and storyteller Michael Loader, who will host a Playshop: Its All Greek and show for young children at the Youth Community Centre.

Festival director Tanya Bruce-Lockhart said: “We have tried to expand the programme of events year on year in order to appeal to audiences from every part of the community and to all ages and different tastes.

“It is important for the town of Bridport to have ownership of the festival and that there is something interesting, illuminating and entertaining for everyone."

The Bridport Literary Festival ignited in November 2005 as a result of the Bridport Prize – an established and internationally respected award for poetry and short story writing - and has continued to grow from strength to strength ever since.

The year's sponsors include Kitson and Trotman, Waterstones, Specsavers, the Bull Hotel, the Friends of the Bridport Literary Festival along with many local benefactors.

The Bridport Literary Festival will take place between Sunday, November 5 and Sunday, November 12.

For more information, visit www.bridlit.com or contact the Bridport Tourist Information Centre 01308 424 901.