THOUSANDS of book lovers will be heading for Woodstock today, hot on the heels of massive crowds at the Blenheim Palace Horse Trials.

Just three days after the eventers headed home, the town is preparing to welcome record numbers at one of the country’s fastest growing literary festivals.

Over five days, the town and Blenheim Palace will be hosting events featuring leading biographers, poets, historians, foodies, footballers, politicians, novelists and fashion writers.

Organisers of the Independent Woodstock Literary Festival say they are confident that last year’s attendance of 5,000 will be surpassed.

The festival dinner, at the palace on Friday night, will hear from Sir Terry Wogan, who will be talking about his book Wogan’s Ireland, inspired by a successful television series which attracted five million viewers.

Other highlights include the former Chancellor Alistair Darling talking about his frank memoir of the 2008 economic crash and his relationship with Gordon Brown.

For tickets and more information, see woodstockliteraryfestival.com or call 01865 305305.