Festival 'shines a light' on Scotland's book town Wigtown

The annual celebration of literature has started in Scotland's national book town.

The Wigtown Book Festival runs across 10 days until 4 October.

It promises national and international guests while also showcasing Galloway to a wider audience.

More than 250 events are taking place featuring - among others - comedian Lucy Porter, actor Sam Heughan and crime writers Louise Welsh and Chris Brookmyre.

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The first festival was held in the Dumfries and Galloway town back in 1998 after it won a national competition to become Scotland's book town.

It was up against five other places, Gatehouse of Fleet and Moffat in Dumfries and Galloway as well as Dalmellington, Dunblane and Strathaven.

Since then it has seen a stream of writers, celebrities and politicians drawn to the quiet rural corner of south-west Scotland.

In the process, they have helped give a new life to the town which had seen a string of job losses as major employers closed their doors.

Bookseller and author Shaun Bythell has been part of most of the festivals and has seen the difference they have made.

"I've seen the crucial role it plays - attracting visitors, showcasing Wigtown as Scotland's national book town and in highlighting the literature, culture and history of the region," he said.

"It's so much more than just a book festival – and it's about so much more than books.

"The whole community works together to welcome visitors and to show them all that Wigtown and Galloway have to offer."

Festival programmer Lee Randall said the area was home to many superb contemporary writers of its own.

"The festival programme shines a light on all this as well as the region's wider creativity, culture and environment," she added.

"We are very much looking forward to welcoming visitors for 10 days of literature, film, music, theatre, guided walks and discovery."

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