Wells Festival of Literature is asking local people and businesses to back its year-round school programme.

The volunteer-run charity says sponsorship helps fund projects including author visits, poems by post, bookshop trips, theatre visits and support for school libraries.

The programme is paid for through festival ticket profits, donations, sponsors and Friends of the Festival.

This year, organisers have introduced a range of packages designed to make it easier for local supporters to get involved.

Supporters can contribute from £100.

Businesses and individuals can also choose from Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsorship packages.

Gold sponsorship costs £1,250, Silver costs £750 and Bronze costs £400.

Each package includes an advert in the festival's full-colour brochure, which has an 8,000 print run, as well as an auditorium screen advert during the festival.

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Other benefits include complimentary tickets, opportunities to entertain clients and staff, and a free copy of a sponsored author's book.

The registered charity works with more than 50 Somerset schools and says its activities benefit more than 3,500 children.

Recent school visitors have included poet A.F. Harrold and author and humorist Andy Seed, who was author-in-residence at St Ben's in Glastonbury.

Several schools have also received help with their libraries.

Funding also supports a special festival event attended by more than 1,000 children.

Anyone interested in becoming a supporter or sponsor can email [email protected].

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