ILKLEY crime writer Sophie Hannah, whose latest book The Monogram Murders offers her take on Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, is one of the headline guests at Bradford’s first literature festival.

The city’s literary and cultural heritage, past and present, will be celebrated in 150 events across the city from May 15-24.

The 10-day festival is aimed at boosting literacy levels among children and adults, promoting cultural diversity, health and wellbeing, and encouraging people into the city centre. Festival organisers Syima Aslam and Irna Qureshi are planning to make it an annual event.

The festival follows a successful weekend taster event last September when guests included comic Shazia Mirza and London Olympics poet Lemn Sissay, and events ranged from a discussion on links between faith and fashion to an Enid Blyton-themed mystery.

This year’s festival includes a schools programme of free events, encouraging a love of books and reading. Fun, interactive events include giant Scrabble pieces scattered in Bradford’s Mirror Pool, a look at Stephan Pastis’s Timmy Failure books, about an American schoolboy detective, and storyboarding workshops.

“We’re taking literacy out of the classroom,” said Syima. “It’s not enough to expect literacy to be limited to school – it’s part of life. Without literacy, every other part of the Curriculum is closed to you. We hope a legacy of this festival will be that parents and children develop and continue a lifelong love of reading.”

Funded by Arts Council England and Bradford Council, the festival’s key partners are the University of Bradford and Bradford College, and it is sponsored by the NHS, Woodhouse Grove School and Incommunities.

Festival venues include the City Library, the National Media Museum, Bradford College, City Hall, Waterstones and the Midland Hotel. “We want to engage Bradford and get people talking about Bradford for all the right reasons,” said Syima. “The city centre is somewhere for families to bring their children, we want people to come and make use of what’s here. It’s cultural regeneration, tying in with the city’s economic regeneration.”

Other festival guests include children’s writer Lauren Child, best known for the Charlie and Lola picture books, which inspired a TV series. To mark10 years of her books, youngsters are invited to create their own 3D Charlie and Lola.

Ben Aaronovitch, author of the best-selling Rivers of London books, will talk about life as a novelist and scriptwriter, having worked on Doctor Who, while Irish cyclist and adventure travel book writer Dervla Murphy lifts the lid on her eventful cycling trips through countries such as Iran, Afghanistan, Romania, Cuba and Ethiopia.

Brian Patten, one of the celebrated Mersey Poets, reflects on the verse that has shaped his career, and there’s more contemporary writing from poet and author John Siddique. The Beehive Poets, based at Bradford’s New Beehive pub, will interview each other, asking what inspires their work.

“Poets from different cultural backgrounds will come together for readings, creating a ‘tapas of poetry’,” said Syima.

The district’s literary heritage is explored in Bronte-themed events - including a discussion of race and gender in their writing and a Bronte quiz - and a panel examining the lasting impact of JB Priestley’s writing.

Delving into the past is photographer Mark Davis, leading an after-dark tour of Undercliffe Cemetery. Mark’s book Necropolis: City of the Dead explores the historic graveyard - one of the greatest achievements in Victorian funerary design and accomplishment - and the lives of those buried there.

l Bradford Literature Festival runs from May 15-24. Tickets go on sale on Thursday, March 26. For more information, visit bradfordliteraturefestival.co.uk or facebook.com/bradfordlitfest or Twitter @bradfordlitfest.