Island book fest gets under way

Author Roger Hutchinson, left, and book trust chairman John Randall

The first Hebridean book festival is under way at An Lanntair Art Centre in Stornoway, Western Isles.

Faclan - Gaelic for words - covers writing in Gaelic and English and features non-fiction, poetry and drama.

Speakers include Roger Hutchinson, author of Calum's Road, Islands Book Trust chairman John Randall and young novelist Kevin MacNeil.

The festival programme finishes on Saturday with two short plays by the late Iain Crichton Smith.

It was opened with the screening of two documentaries on Melbost bard Murdo MacFarlane and Lewis-born writer Mr Crichton Smith.

Backing for the festival came from the Scottish Book Trust, Scottish Arts Council, Islands Book Trust, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council), Western Isles Enterprise, Gaelic Arts Project and the BBC.

Gaelic-speakers can hear a special Faclan edition of the books programme, Leugh an Leabhar, on Radio nan Gaidheal on 7 September at 1130 BST and 2200 BST.