THE second annual Bournemouth Festival of Words is to be “bigger and better”.

The festival will be officially launched by the Mayor of Bournemouth, Councillor Phil Stanley-Watts, at a Writers’ Networking Event on Friday May 24.

A week of events including writers’ workshops, a Poetry Slam, Heritage Walk and a Flash Fiction Slam, will follow, as well as interactive storytelling sessions by children’s authors Carol Hunt and Sarah Lean.

Festival spokeswoman Liz Gordon said: “We also have pre-festival events such as a Literary Quiz on May 8 to get people warmed up.” Visit bournemouthfestivalofwords.co.uk