Organisers hail festival line-up

Award-winning author Ali Smith will be among the guests

The organisers of the Nairn Book and Arts Festival have promised their most ambitious line-up yet.

Now in its third year, this year's guests will include Inverness's Whitbread Award-winning author Ali Smith and writer James Meek.

Singer and songwriter Anne Lorne Gillies and acclaimed opera singer Tony Henry are due to attend.

Scottish jazz singer Niki King will also be performing at the festival, which runs from 10 to 17 June.

Chairman John Fyfe said: "We are really excited - we have pushed the boat out and put on a pretty ambitious line-up."

Three events - including one with Ali Smith - have sold out.

We are setting out our wares and obviously the response we get from people will determine what kind of things we do John Fyfe Festival chairman

Mr Fyfe said the audience reaction to this year's festival would determine what happens and how it grows in the future.

As well as the star attractions, there will be a dance, story telling, exhibitions, talks by local authors and the results of a short story competition.

Mr Fyfe said: "We have got over 50 events which is more than we've had before by a long way.

"What we really want to do is make this a popular annual event. We are setting out our wares and obviously the response we get from people will determine what kind of things we do."

Organisers said there had been interest in tickets from as far afield as the US.