VILLAGERS in Kennington are putting the finishing touches to the programme for their annual literary festival.

The festival, which is being staged at Kennington Village Centre next Friday and Saturday, has attracted a number of well-known local authors, including sci-fi writer Brian Aldiss, BBC presenter Bill Heine and children’s author MG Harris.

For the second year running, the festival has been organised by antiques expert Sylvia Vetta. She said funds raised from the event would be used to support the future running costs of Kennington Library, which is run from the village centre off Kennington Road.

Ms Vetta, of Upper Road, who organised the festival on behalf of Friends of Kennington Library, added: “We would like to use the festival to highlight the work that library staff do.

“The library has been saved from closure, but we think funding cuts from the county council could still lead to a reduction in staff hours, and money raised at the festival could be used in future to employ assistant librarians, if necessary, to maintain the current level of service.

“On Friday night, The Ultimate Survivor, a film about Oxford’s first purpose-built cinema in Jeune Street, will be shown, and there should be something for everyone on Saturday, with appearances by children’s authors MG Harris and Korky Paul.”

Ms Harris, whose Joshua Files children’s books have been sold in 17 countries, added: “This is a great little festival and I am pleased to see that it is supporting staff at the library.

“People accept that the library can’t be open full-time, but it would not be ideal to have to staff it with volunteers.”

Radio presenter Bill Heine will talk about his new book, The Hunting of the Shark, which details his battle to keep the shark sculpture he embedded in the roof of his home in New High Street, Headington, 25 year ago.

The county council consultation on a proposed shake-up of the library service in Oxfordshire ended last week.

The council will now consider whether or not to press ahead with plans to ask volunteers to provide two-thirds of staffing at 16 rural branches.

Last week award-winning writer Philip Pullman warned against relying on volunteers to do professional work and said being a librarian was not something you could learn in a few hours.

For further information about Kennington Free Literary Festival visit sylviavetta.co.uk and click on the festival link.