Tickets have gone on sale for the upcoming Stoke Book Festival, endorsed by British children's author Dame Jacqueline Wilson.

Stoke Book Festival, which will take place from 3 to 10 October, aims to showcase a broad mix of genres and interests, while celebrating home-grown talent and promoting a love of reading and literacy.

Presented by Stoke Minster in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent City Council Libraries, Visit Stoke-on-Trent, YMCA North Staffordshire and the National Literacy Trust, the week-long festival will feature family activities, workshops, school events and community celebrations.

Confirmed authors include A.J. West, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Betrayal of Thomas True and former BBC journalist and broadcaster; art historian and ceramics advocate Verity Babbs; and author and journalist Helena Attlee, whose work has explored the history and culture of gardens.

The festival has already received endorsement from Dame Jacqueline Wilson, who said Stoke-on-Trent's Arnold Bennett is one of her "all-time favourite writers".

Sharing her thoughts with Festival Director Simon Drakeford during a meeting to discuss the event, she said: "It's great news that Stoke is launching its own very exciting Book Festival, appropriately in this National Year of Reading.

"I can't imagine my life without books, and I do everything in my power to show children that books can be funny, exciting, moving, and stimulating. I make sure I have sturdy handbags so I can have a book to read wherever I go.

"One of my all-time favourite writers was born in Stoke - the brilliant, prolific Arnold Bennett. He'd be so proud that Stoke is having its own Book Festival at last."

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The organisers of the festival also explained that a key ambition is to support efforts to tackle literacy poverty across the city.

The festival will complement existing literacy initiatives including the National Literacy Trust's Story Quest, Stoke 100 Reads and Tales in the Park, alongside programmes delivered by Stoke-on-Trent Libraries and the city's independent and national bookshops.

Tickets are on sale now, and further announcements, new events and programme updates can be found on Stoke Book Festival's social media channels.