SOME of the biggest names in modern literature are set to appear at the region's biggest book festival.

The 26th annual Durham Book Festival takes place next month featuring appearances by some of the country's best-known writers.

Among the highlights will be an appearance at the Gala Theatre by international best-selling author Anthony Horowitz making his first appearance at the festival.

On Wednesday, October 12, the writer will talk about his career, including the teen spy series Alex Rider books, two Sherlock Holmes novels and a James Bond book Trigger Mortis.

The following day, one of the country’s best known politicians, Labour's Alan Johnson, will speak at the Gala Theatre about life as a constituency MP.

During the anniversary year of the Battle of the Somme, two of the country's best-known authors will talk about writing set in the First World War.

Ghost Road author Pat Barker and Michael Morpurgo, who wrote War Horse, will talk at an event in Durham Cathedral on Friday, October 14.

This year’s major Book Festival commission, a special songwriting project with Mercury Prize-nominated Kathryn Williams and Friends, brings the Book Festival’s events at the Gala Theatre to a close on Saturday , October15 at 4pm.

Award-winning poet and playwright Inua Ellams’ show An Evening with an Immigrant has already sold out.

For more information about Durham Book Festival, and to see the full line up of events, visit durhambookfestival.com.