The four-day extravaganza will bring theatre, poetry and art to the town in September.

There will be performances of Shakespeare on the streets and poetry recitals in pub gardens.

Organisers hope it will be popular with residents from across the borough and further afield and inspire people to write.

Tim Dawes is vice-chairman of the festival. He said the idea was borne of the desire to shine the spotlight on Havant's cultural side.

Mr Dawes, owner of Nineveh book shop in The Pallant, said: 'The idea really was to try to raise the interest in literature and art forms generally in the area.

'Also just to do something for Havant which was not about fancy new shopping centres. It has been building from there into a major festival.'

Havant's rich literary heritage will be celebrated with readings from PG Wodehouse, who wrote some of the early Jeeves novels at his home in Emsworth, as well as John Keats and Nevil Shute.

Keats wrote his famous lyrical poem, The Eve of St Agnes, while staying with a friend in Bedhampton.

There will be walks around the town's most interesting historical sites, exhibitions, film, cabaret, workshops and lots for children.

Schools, community centres and book shops will also be playing their part in the festival – the only one in Hampshire.

Although it will be on a smaller scale than the established Hay-on-Wye, Bath and Cheltenham festivals it will still attract big-name local and national authors.

Among them will be Oscar-winning playwright Ron Harwood and acclaimed Waterlooville poet John Haynes.

Mr Dawes said: 'I think in a way people who have been to the big festivals will find this one refreshingly small, cozy and accessible.

'There will be a mix of national and local and a lot of things going on in the streets, and you won't have to pay an awful lot to see anything.'

elise.brewerton@thenews.co.uk