Special guests at this year's Warwick Words include Felix Dennis, Frances Fyfield, Gerald Scarfe, Tony Hawks, Louis de Bernieres and Brian Patten among others.

A host of talks, workshops and performances are planned for the event, which got underway on Thursday and runs until Sunday.

A new Young Words - a one day festival for children - will also take place for the first time on Sunday.

Other speakers include Charley Boorman, who will be recounting his latest adventure By All Means at the Bridge House Theatre on Sunday at 7.30pm.

And professional diver and explorer Paul Rose will discuss his book Oceans, that accompanies a soon-to-be screened BBC2 series, at the theatre on Sunday at 2.30pm.

Another new item for this year's event is the 'Festival Book', which is Marie Phillips' debut novel God Behaving Badly.

The author will talk about her novel featuring Greek gods in north London during an afternoon tea event in Northgate Church on Saturday at 2pm.

Around 2,500 people attended Warwick Words 2007, with more expected this year.

Festival co-ordinator Helen Meeke added: "Other literary festivals might be on around the same time, but as someone said to me last year - why go to Cheltenham when you have got such a great event on your doorstep."

To book tickets call 776438.

www.warwickwords.co.uk