Literature envelops the sleepy village of Ayot Green, near Welwyn. Famous authors known to this corner of Hertfordshire include EM Forster (Old Stevenage), George Bernard Shaw (Ayot St Lawrence), HG Wells (Digswell), Barbara Cartland (Hatfield), Graham Greene (Berkhamsted) and Fredrick Forsythe (East End Green, Hertford).

Unsurprisingly, locals are celebrating their bookish links by hosting an inaugural Ayot Literary Festival.

Festival director Fiona McIntosh explains how it all came about.

“Some friends were discussing ways of making better use of the Ayot Horticultural Show marquee,” she explains, “and someone came up with the idea of a literary festival. “We soon found that it is not easy getting something like this going without a track record and for months we only had one author. Then suddenly it clicked, and publishers started taking us seriously, and the offers of some really good authors rolled in. The icing on the cake was getting Alexander McCall Smith, who is a big attraction at festivals worldwide.”

Children can looked forward to visits from Darren Shan and Chorleywood author Conn Iggulden (The Dangerous Book For Boys) is giving talks for both his younger readers and adults.

Other authors appearing are Prue Leith, Will Hutton, Barbara Erskine, Jane Johnson, Adele Parks, Tony Parsons, Nicci French, Simon Scarrow and Jake Wallis Simons.

The Festival runs from Friday, June 24 to Sunday, June 26 in the marquee on Ayot Green. Details: 01707 326865, www.ayotliteraryfestival.com