A THREE-day literature festival is to bring a list of best-selling authors to Westbourne.

The Westbourne Book Binge, from April 27-29, will welcome guests including comedy writer David Quantick and police dog handler David Wardell with his heroic companion Finn.

The event will take place in venues including the Westbourne Library, the Durley Dean Hotel and the UK’s smallest cinema the Colosseum.

Visitors will include:

* PC David Wardell and his dog Finn, who survived being stabbed twice with a 10-inch knife, and whose story was told in Fabulous Finn: The Brave Police Dog Who Came Back from the Brink.

* David Quantick talking about his work as an Emmy and BAFTA award-winning comedy writer of Veep, Harry Hill’s TV Burp and Brass Eye, as well as a music writer for NME and Q.

* Dr Helen Fry, expert on the secret bugging of Nazi PoWs and historical consultant on the Channel 4 series David Jason’s Secret Service.

* Rick Broadbent, sports journalist for the Sunday Times, talking about the race for the great sports story.

* Best-selling author Jane Corry on how to write a page-turning thriller.

Susan England, co-organiser of Westbourne Book Binge Co-Organiser, said: “We have high hopes for the festival and that it will grow each year becoming a must-go-to event in Bournemouth and Dorset’s cultural calendar.

“None of this can be achieved without the participation of authors, journalists, publishers, volunteers, graphic designers, PR professionals, library staff, the award-winning Westbourne Bookshop, local business owners in Westbourne, and most importantly, the Coastal BID, Bournemouth Council Arts Fund, and the office of the mayor of Bournemouth – a true community endeavour. “

Lia Martin, chair of Westbourne Business Association and director of Bournemouth Coastal BID, said: “We are so glad the Book Binge team chose Westbourne to host their event and what better place to play home to a new literary festival in Bournemouth than the home of the South West's Best Independent Book Shop of the Year, Westbourne Bookshop.

“We hope visitors to the binge will enjoy the Westbourne venues and we wish the Book Binge team lots of luck in their first year.”

The event is also supported by Westbourne Business Association, Westbourne Bookshop, Bournemouth Libraries, Poole Libraries, Bournemouth University, the Arts University Bournemouth, Darren Northeast PR, Magic Box Media and Circo Lounge.

Details are at tickettailor.com/events/westbournebookbinge or westbournebookbinge.co.uk