HUNDREDS of pupils from 11 different schools across Swindon have completed a literary journey during a rather unique festival week celebrating all things fiction.

The Swindon Youth Festival of Literature saw authors, illustrators and poets lift the lid on their literary creations to take the students on an inspirational journey into the unknown.

From intergalactic space travel to what James Bond got up to as a teenager in the 1930s, as well as lessons in being a bodyguard, the festival packed a punch this year when it welcomed a whole host of best-selling novelists.

Among this year’s line-up were Fred Blunt, Philip Reeve, Mark Lowery, Ash Dickinson, Phil Earle, Cliff McNish, Anthony McGowan, Martyn Bedford, AG Smith, Chris Bradford, James Carter, The Two Steves. Sam Angus and Steve Cole.

Dorcan Academy media teacher Ruth Farrow revealed the festival’s beginnings dated back to 2008 under the umbrella of Swindon Ten. She said: “It started out as five Swindon secondary schools and five Swindon Primaries, with the librarians from the secondary schools co-ordinating the project.

“Fiona Hardcastle, Dorcan’s librarian, was one of the librarians and took over managing the project when the co-ordinator of Swindon Ten left prior to the very first festival week. The first year was so successful that she then made a bid to Swindon Ten for them to include all 11 secondary schools in subsequent years, which they agreed to do.

“Swindon Ten ceased to exist after 2010 and the Swindon secondary head teachers were so supportive of the festival and pleased with what this event brought to Swindon students that they continued to fund it directly with Mrs Hardcastle co-ordinating the project.

“The Dorcan Academy has been the lead school for the festival for the last eight years and it has grown from strength to strength each year, with some of the most popular authors writing for teenagers today visiting the town and also the addition of the primary event and also the introduction of the Patron of Reading for Swindon.

“This is a unique event, nowhere else in the country does a group of schools work collaboratively to make a festival like this happen.”

Award-winning author Anthony McGowan said: “I came to the festival for the first time two or three years ago and had such an amazing experience. The festival has become this massive beast - thanks to the hard work of Fiona Hardcastle and the many librarians who support her.

“It has become quite a big part of the children’s calendar and it fills all of the town with a real buzz with children’s authors coming from all over the place to take part.”