THE Shell Chester Literature Festival, celebrating its 20th year, welcomed a fabulous line-up to its traditional literary lunch.

The Shell UK sponsored festival saw journalist and presenter Esther Rantzen and authors Carol Drinkwater and Marina Fiorato in town to speak at the lunch held at the Chester Grosvenor Hotel and Spa.

They were greeted by festival chairman Bill Hughes, newly awarded an honorary fellowship in English by the University of Chester, in recognition of his 34 years of service to the institution.

The festival, which runs until October 24, is offering a mix of prize-winning poets and novelists together with nationally known authors speaking on a great range of subjects.

Newly published writers and local writers also get a stage.

For more information about the festival, turn to pages 37 & 44.