Record audiences flocked to Wells Festival of Literature's 30th anniversary celebrations in October to hear talks by their favourite authors or be informed by others as yet undiscovered.

With visitor numbers up four fold, the nine-day event drew capacity crowds on several occasions at festival venue the 300-seat Cedars Hall. The festival was opened by actor Sheila Hancock and brought to a thrilling end on Saturday (October 22) by historical fiction writer Robert Harris.

Speakers ranged from political correspondents, scientists, historians and musicians to award-winning novelists – Costa Novel Award 2021 winner Claire Fuller and children's author Michael Morpurgo among them. Morpurgo received a standing ovation after speaking movingly on why he writes for children about war. He has also written a foreword for the just-published You Don't Know What War Is, a gripping diary written by 12-year-old Ukrainian refugee Yeva Skalietska.

Popular figures included science writer Gaia Vince, zoologist Lucy Cooke, and historian and TV presenter Janina Ramirez.

World affairs were a big draw with talks from the BBC's international editor Jeremy Bowen, political commentator Michael Cockerell, and a humorous account from Michael Crick on the disruptive effect of Nigel Farage on British politics.

The festival is not only an annual event for book lovers but is also dedicated to extending that love of books by supporting a variety of schemes in local schools. Run entirely by volunteers, all profits go towards such projects as subsidised books and talks from visiting authors.

This year a special two-day festival event for schools featured Dan Smith, author of stories for young adults, who entertained more than 600 appreciative year six youngsters from local schools.

As part of the anniversary celebrations 30 local primary schools will each receive a selection of books to the value of £100 covering a range of interests and abilities chosen by the schools themselves.

Speakers throughout were fascinating, funny, informative – or all three. Musician Richard Mainwaring hit a high note with an explanation of a how each of a rat's whiskers vibrates to a different frequency, creating an individual musical soundtrack to every rat run. Who knew? Journalist Oliver Bullough hilariously used the metaphor of PG Wodehouse's Jeeves stories to explain how Britain has become butler to the world of criminal and kleptocrats.

So, if there's one thing to take away from Wells Festival of Literature it's to make sure that next year you book tickets to authors unknown to you, as well as for your favourites – you may find inspiration between the pages.