CELEBRITIES from the worlds of showbiz, literature and music are heading for Bewdley as the town gears up for its annual celebration of the arts.

A starry line-up has been announced for the nine-day Bewdley Festival, which this year runs from Friday, October 6 until Saturday, October 14.

The Ramada Hotel will be the venue for appearances by best-selling author, Bill Bryson, comedian and actor, Roy Hudd, writer-director, Steven Berkoff and guitarist, John Williams.

Bryson, whose books include The Lost Continent and Notes From a Small Island, is at the Ramada on Saturday, October 9, speaking and fielding questions, as well as signing copies of his books.

Hudd is making a return visit to the festival, this time presenting an entertaining evening of his favourite songs, stories and monologues, on Friday, October 13.

Multi-talented actor, Berkoff, explores some of Shakespeare's darkest and most intriguing characters in Shakespeare's Villains - A Masterclass in Evil, on Thursday, October 12.

Williams teams up with another renowned guitarist, John Etheridge, for a concert featuring original compositions by both musicians, on Sunday, October 8 and on Wednesday, October 11, folk singer June Tabor will be in concert.

The festival gets under way with a musical highlight on Friday, October 6, when Dennis Locorriere, former lead singer with Dr Hook, plays at the Ramada.

Other venues around Bewdley stage festival events, with the town's Baptist church hosting an afternoon with antiques expert, Philip Serrell, who has appeared on BBC television programmes, including Bargain Hunt and Flog It!, on Tuesday, October 10.

The following day, Malcolm Stent will recount memories of his working class upbinging in the back streets of Birmingham, illustrated with a blend of music and comedy.

Carole Swingler, press spokeswoman for the festival, said: "I think it's a particularly varied bill. At the launch to festival members, people were coming and saying it's the best yet. I think we have got a terrific selection of big names."

She was particularly pleased there would be a mix of household names and local performers. Bewdley's Chris Smith will speak about his 16,500-mile bicycle journey from the UK to Beijing at the Baptist Church on the morning of Tuesday, October 10, amid a host of suppoorting events.

Bewdley Festival programmes will be available from the town's Tourist Information Centre and shops from next week. Tickets go on general sale from Saturday, July 29 and can be booked through the festival organising committee on 01299 403355 or the Tourist Information Centre on 01299 401570.