Budding authors, poets and playwrights are waiting in the wings to perform for Wyre audiences.

Participants in the annual Writing and Performance Festival are local amateurs who have been given the chance to showcase their work at Thornton Little Theatre and Marsh Mill from 19 to 25 September.

A number of these are winners of a competition held earlier this year to unearth Wyre's talented writers.

Others will be stepping up for an open mic event that will bring the week-long festival to a close.

The event, now in its fifth year, is organised by Wyre Borough Council's arts development team. Arts Assistant Michelle Bentley said: "The aim is to encourage more people to get writing and then share the results with the local community.

"In the past we've just focused on plays but we decided to bring short stories into the mix this year.

"The response to this has been very positive with around 100 entries for the competition."

Features of this year's festival include a showcase of short stories at Thornton Little Theatre where the winners of a storywriting competition held earlier this year will be announced.

This will take place on Friday 19 September, 7.30pm, admission £5.

Performance poet extraordinaire Rosie Lugosi, also known as Manchester's Vampire Queen, will hold a free writing workshop at Marsh Mill, Thornton, on Saturday 20 September, 2pm.

Performance of winning play and presentation of awards at Thornton Little Theatre, the culmination of a playwriting competition, will be held on Saturday 20 September, 8pm. Entrance £5.

Rosie Lugosi returns for an open mic poetry and story reading at Marsh Mill, Thornton, on Thursday 25 September, at 7.30pm. Admission £5.

A festival saver ticket is available for all three performances costing £12 from Thornton Little Theatre box office on 01253 858529 (open 10am to 2pm Monday to Saturday).