DURHAM'S annual literature festival has celebrated its 15th birthday.

This year's event will begin later this month, but a launch party has already been held, with a birthday cake and a visit from Mary Bell, of Easington, who founded the festival in 1989.

Alison Lister, of Durham City Arts, which funds the festival, said: "The festival has achieved a regional profile and status and has been building steadily over the last five or six years.

"Some events you don't expect a large audience for, but others you would expect to be popular. It is about getting a balance. People come to it because it is enjoyable. You can meet authors, ask them questions ands find out where they get their ideas from.''

The festival is from Sunday, September 26, until Saturday, October 23, at a variety of venues in the city centre, and the programme includes workshops, talks and performances.

This year's festival includes performances of The Vagina Monologues from Monday, October 11, to Saturday, October 16, in the Gala Theatre.

Former leading Labour politician Roy Hattersley will be the star attraction at the Gala on Wednesday, October 20, and popular author Iain Banks will be in conversation with North-East writer Chaz Brenchley in the theatre on Tuesday, October 19.

For a full programme of events, times, venues and prices, go to www.literature festival.co.uk