Wells Festival of Literature has been handed a prestigious community award by the High Sheriff of Somerset in recognition of its work with schools and volunteers.

Janet Montgomery, the county's High Sheriff, presented the honour to chairman Richard Manning on Tuesday, 19 November, after meeting festival organisers.

She said: "The festival is a real gem of Somerset and you are doing the most fantastic job. I had expected to find a paid person behind the scenes, and instead I discovered that it is all run by volunteers with a love of literature and of children."

The festival, which began 33 years ago, is now the largest volunteer-run literary festival in the UK. This year's event attracted more than 9,000 people across nine days in October — its biggest turnout to date — and featured bestselling authors and TV names.

Proceeds from ticket sales fund school outreach work throughout the year. That includes four free Year 6 sessions at Cedars Hall where pupils meet a leading author — this year Sam Sedgman — and get the chance to buy signed books at discounted prices.

The award is the first in the festival's history and organisers say it will help them expand their work even further.

Planning is already under way for the 2026 festival, with organisers promising more events to promote literacy across Wells and Somerset.

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