It's full steam ahead for next year's Ledbury Poetry Festival, with the majority of the programme already booked and sorted before the New Year.

Big cultural guns are firmly on the list, including the celebrated Irish writer Paul Muldoon and Frieda Hughes, the daughter of 20th Century literary giants, the late Poet Laureate Ted Hughes and the feminist icon Sylvia Plath.

Festival chairman Alan Lloyd described it as "a superb programme".

"Charles Bennett, our festival manager, who only started in September, has really got stuck into the job and booked many star poets, including Paul Muldoon, who is scheduled to appear on the opening night of the festival," he said.

In sorting out the literary backbone of the festival so early, Dr Bennett hopes he has made the 2001 festival as friendly as possible to budding local writers.

On each day of the ten-day event - from June 28 to July 8 - visitors will be able to hone their skills with a series of writers' workshops. Five of these will be run by poet-in-residence, Ruth Padel, best known for her regular poetry column in the Independent on Sunday.

Mr Lloyd added: "In addition to organising the writing competition, Charles is also working on a new project, a writing bursary, which will provide unparalleled mentoring opportunities to three young people during the main festival."

Also new this year will be the "In Conversation" events, where top poets will be less formal on stage, and answer questions on the creative process.

Leading poet, critic and editor Blake Morrison will discuss the work of William Blake and Matthew Sweeney will talk about the way he puts a poem together.

The Poetry Society itself is to come to town for the first ever "Poetry Society Debate", a spirited discussion that may become an annual fixture.

Dr Bennett said: "Two leading poets, still to be named will take to the stage with Christina Patterson, the director of the Poetry Society, and thrash out the nature of contemporary poetry."

Dr Bennett said he was very excited by the prospect of a reading by Frieda Hughes.

He said: "It is important to remember she is not only the daughter of Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath, she is also an outstanding poet and artist in her own right. Her poems radiate a sense of mystery and beauty. She is good."

Paul Muldoon, the winner of the T S Eliot prize in 1994, was described by Seamus Heaney as "the most promising poet to appear in Ireland for years."

Dr Bennett said: "It's a very big scoop."

An African theme is being considered for the popular town party, and free cider will be on offer at another free event, a reading by Hereford poet Fiona Mac on "Ciderlore".