Organisers make funding appeal for free book festival

THE organisers of one of the Capital’s newest independent book festivals have launched an online appeal for funds.

The West Port Book Festival needs £2000 to put on a range of free events later this year.

Organisers said the cash, raised through website Indiegogo, would help finance travel and accommodation for participants, venue hire, programme printing and hospitality.

They confirmed the festival would take place even if the funding target was not reached but warned parts of the programme could be dropped if costs had to be cut.

Last year’s festival saw 24 events, from author readings to book-binding demonstrations, take place around West Port.

Festival director Peggy Hughes said: “We are a not-for-profit event so we have no money of our own and the people behind this are volunteers.

“Every little extra we can raise through Indiegogo makes it easier to do the kind of programme we want.”