IT might have been cancelled at Northwood House, but the Red Funnel Isle of Wight Literary Festival is set to live on in digital form this year.

Starting on Friday, October 9, and running for three days, the digital festival will carry on the tradition of bringing authors together to share their work.

Organisers say they aim to provide audiences with an inspiring and engaging programme that offers something for all.

This is the festival's ninth year and the line-up has not yet been announced.

Festival participants can expect wide range of free video content from a host of top writers and will be able to choose from sessions including history, poetry, the lives of famous people, adventure and everything in between.

Island writers will be celebrated and take centre stage, with a special feature about the Island landscapes and views that inspire them.

Maggie Ankers, chair of the Isle of Wight Literary Festival, said: “While we are very sorry not to be gathering in person this autumn at Northwood House in Cowes, we look forward to delivering a rich and varied programme.

"We can’t wait to reconnect with our loyal festival patrons who have supported us since the start and we also hope to use this far-reaching digital platform to attract new fans, whom we hope to meet in person next year.”

For more information, to stay up to date with the latest news and be the first to hear about speaker announcements, digital festival goers should visit www.isleofwightliteraryfestival.com and subscribe to Festival newsletter.

Subscribers will also benefit from special access to pre-order titles from the Festival’s bookshop partner, Blackwells, as well as receive exclusive ferry offers from Red Funnel, the headline sponsor.

Fran Collins, CEO of Red Funnel, said: “We are pleased to support the Isle of Wight Literary Festival and ensure its spirit lives on for 2020.

"It’s disappointing that there won’t be a live gathering this year but we hope to see everyone online and having a great time.

"The festival organising committee is a tremendously dedicated group which has done a brilliant job delivering a quality experience for nearly a decade and its passion for showcasing literature to all is clear."