Authors heading to next month’s Budleigh Salterton’s literary festival have spoken of their enthusiasm for the event.

Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival chairman Bill McDermott said the town was on the map thanks to its festival reputation.

He said: “It is very satisfying for Budleigh, as a weekend destination, that so many writers are looking forward to our festival with such keen anticipation.

“They tell us that they are delighted to be coming - and we are certainly delighted that they will be with us for those three days in September.

“Budleigh Salterton is certainly becoming the place of choice for festivals, with the success of the recent music festival, that art exhibition in August and the literary festival in September.

“We are increasingly confident that we shall be able to offer people in East Devon and further afield a truly splendid and memorable literary festival.”

The festival organisers said excitement was ‘mounting fast’ as the top-flight authors expressed their anticipation of the event.

Double award-winning author A.L. Kennedy has spoken of her ‘joy and enthusiasm’ at being invited to Budleigh, while praising the “atmosphere and enthusiasm” of the smaller literary festivals.

Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall, author of The Good Granny Guide who will be talking about her book In my Granny’s Kitchen, said: “I’ve always loved the English seaside “Now my son and his family live not far from Budleigh so that part of the world is getting to feel like home.”

• Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival runs from September 16-18. For more information, visit: www.budlitfest.org.uk