FOLLOWING a successful campaign to keep its funding from Bradford Council, Ilkley Literature Festival is looking ahead to a programme of spring events, including the Words in the City Festival in Bradford and a one-off event with David Starkey at the Kings Hall, Ilkley.

Words in the City takes place in City Park at the World Curry Festival in Bradford on June 6 and June 7 and will be headlined by acclaimed poets Tony Harrison and John Hegley as well as featuring a host of poetry-themed events for the whole family. The full line-up will be announced on April 20.

Thursday, May 14, sees historian David Starkey make a welcome return to the Kings Hall following his sell out appearance at the 2014 Ilkley Literature Festival. Starkey will be discussing his latest book, Magna Carta, The True Story Behind the Charter, which explores the history, impact and global influence of the Magna Carta, 800 years on.

Festival director Rachel Feldberg said: “Put the dates in the diary now! After our successful campaign to keep funding from Bradford MDC we are looking forward to a busy spring with some excellent events planned.

“We are very excited about the return of Words in the City which sees us mix poetry with food for the weekend. As well as all the free fun family events we have planned we will also be welcoming two of the UK’s most distinguished poets, Tony Harrison and John Hegley. And to mark 800 years since the signing of Magna Carta, we are welcoming David Starkey, one of most popular speakers at the 2014 Festival, back to Ilkley to talk about the impact of this centuries old ‘charter of liberty’ and why it is still so relevant today.”

Tickets for Words in the City and David Starkey will be on sale from April 20 at ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk when the full programme for Words in the City will also be available.