Wells Festival of Literature, which ended at the weekend, enjoyed its most successful year yet, and was praised by speakers and audiences alike.

More than 6,500 people attended events that took place in Cedars Hall during its nine-days which ran from 27 October to 4 November.

Several events sold out, including a newly-introduced literary quiz night at the White Hart, and a Book Group session featuring novelist Donal Ryan.

Stephen Moss at the Literary Lunch

Meet-the-author lunches were also near capacity, at which local writer and bird expert Stephen Moss proved especially popular with a talk on his latest book Ten Birds That Changed the World.

Authors included several well-known names – Labour MP Wes Stratton, arts director Will Gompertz, and comedian Robin Ince among them – along with a host of speakers not so famous but experts in their own professions.

Childhood memoirs were popular too. Barrister Jolyon Maugham, founder of the Good Law Project, spoke of how his own childhood instilled in him the need to offer a voice that can speak truth to power, while poet Anthony Joseph spoke of his tribute to his father written in sonnet form.

Marcus du Sautoy

It was truly a festival of storytelling and the chance to learn something new, the speakers offering widely varied talks on health, on gardening, and on immigration.

Packed houses queued to hear Tim Marshall on how the politics of space will affect the world, and to hear Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, on what has led to economic decline and a shortfall in public services.

Lighter fare came from author Marion Turner with her amusing fictional biography The Wife of Bath, and from Marcus du Sautoy with his entertaining journey around the world in 80 games.

Marcus du Sautoy

The festival ended with a stirring true tale from Ukraine by BBC foreign news correspondent Andrew Harding on the bravery of a 'Dads Army' of pensioners who fought off invading Russian soldiers.

Festival chairman Richard Manning paid tribute to the support of volunteers, Friends and sponsors, including principal sponsor Chubb Bulleid, which enable the festival to carry out charitable education projects in local schools and colleges.

This year's festival was able to pay for hundreds of youngsters from local schools to be bussed in to Cedars Hall on four occasions to hear children's author M.G. Leonard – a huge success all round.