Book worms can get their hands on a free copy of Times journalist Sathnam Sanghera’s first novel as part of the Marlborough LitFest.

The LitFest committee has teamed up with the Reading Agency to give away The Boy with the Topknot: A Memoir of Love, Secrets and Lies in Wolverhampton. Copies will be available from the library.

This is the second time the festival has organised a Big Town Read, which will culminate in a question and answer session in the town hall with the author from 4pm on September 28.

Mr Sanghera said: “I’m delighted that my memoir is still being read some five years after I wrote it... it was a really difficult book to write.”

Mavis Cheek, founder patron of the LitFest, said: “This year’s line-up will take your breath away with its range and diversity.”

The novel was chosen from this year’s World Book Night list, an annual event run by the Reading Agency in April.

The Marlborough LitFest runs from September 25-28. For more information visit www.marlboroughlitfest.org