A TOWN is getting ready for its first literature festival, and it promises to be a week packed with creativity and fun for the family.

The Blackburn Children’s Reading Festival kicks off next Tuesday and will provide three days of reading fun for schools and the community.

Two days of the festival will be dedicated to school visits, while the last day of the festival will be a free family-fun day.

Children’s Reading Festivals are the brainchild of Blackburn-born author Christina Gabbitas, and she’s proud to be providing Blackburn with its first literature festival.

She said: “Blackburn has never had its own literature festival and this is the first official year that the Children’s Reading Festival is coming to the town.

“Literacy levels are falling in the UK and it’s vital to get children engaged with reading in a fun and creative way, that’s what we do with the festival.

“It’s not just about sitting down and reading a book, it’s about exploring and expressing yourself.”

As well as aiming to make reading exciting and engaging, the festival is set to encourage children from all cultures, backgrounds and abilities to read and write.

There’s an impressive line-up of authors, poets and artists ready to perform over the week, with Christina, who is a children’s author herself, taking to the stage to perform extracts from her award-winning book series, Felicity Fly.

The festival kicks off on Tuesday with an evening session for parents, teachers and anybody working within education.

The evening will give parents an insight into what the children will experience throughout the rest of the week, and will give those in attendance the chance to meet the authors, poets and artists.

On the Wednesday and Thursdays, schools across East Lancashire will attend readings at various venues around Blackburn, including Blackburn Cathedral, The Mall and the market.

Saturday, June 23, is the families and communities day, where everyone is invited to join in with the fun.

There will be live readings, competitions, raffles and plenty of fun.

More information on the free festival can be found online at www.blackburncrf.com.