SALISBURY History Festival is aiming to be “bigger and better” this year.

Organiser Frogg Moody spoke about the event during a meeting of Salisbury Area Board on May 16 at Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre.

The festival will take place over five days in August, running from August 22 to 26, and follows on from the success of the first event last year which featured a range of speakers, guided walks and a court re-trial.

He said: “We have decided this year that we want to make Salisbury History Society [Festival] bigger and better.

“This year, it is quite ambitious, there are 11 speakers, two films, guided walks, and really importantly there is also a writing competition with the schools. The theme of the writing competition is to see how the kids see the market square going into the future.”

The area board supported an application for a grant of £1,000.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Moody said:”Our festival celebrates Salisbury and it’s people.”

Events include a talk on executions in the city with stories of those incarcerated in Fisherton jail who were sent to the gallows, a screening of Secret Spitfires, the Retrial of Constance Kent in the Guildhall courtroom and talks on Salisbury through the ages and the city’s stage and screen history.

As part of the festival a competition is also being run for school pupils and focuses on the theme the future of Salisbury’s Market Place.

There are two age categories for those aged 14, 15 and 16 and another for 17, 18, 19 year olds and the winning entries will be published in the Salisbury Journal as well as being read out by the Mayor of Salisbury during an event at the Guildhall.

Entries can be of a maximum of 400 words and need to be submitted before the closing date on July 31.

Mr Moody said: “It is there chance to make history with their ideas. They could actually shape the history of the Market Place.”

For more information go to salisburyhistoryfestival.co.uk