Sunshine, sold-out events and a wealth of words heralded the end of another hugely successful Word Festival!

Word 09, sponsored by Talisman Energy, took place from May 15-17 in the grounds of the University of Aberdeen and at some of the major arts venues throughout The Granite City.

A dousing of rain failed to prevent record ticket sales, and an estimated 11,000 festival goers were treated to a packed weekend of readings, music, art exhibitions, and film screenings from over 60 authors, musicians, poets and artists.

This year boasted another fantastic line-up, including BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner, '60s icon and broadcaster Joan Bakewell, and John Boyne, author of the 4 million-selling holocaust drama The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.  New Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy read to a sell-out audience at the Saturday Words & Music night at the Lemon Tree.  Book lovers were also treated to appearances from, among others, acclaimed playwrights Liz Lochhead and Colin Teevan; tartan noir novelist Christopher Brookmyre; and bestselling American writer Adriana Trigiani.

The festival, which also saw hundreds of youngsters descend on King's College campus for the Marathon Oil Schools and Children's Festivals, closed with a rousing evening of traditional Scottish music and dancing with Aberdeen's all-girl ceilidh band Danse McCabre at Elphinstone Hall.

Alan Spence, Word Artistic Director, said: "We had twice as many events at this year's festival and the feedback we had from authors and audiences was overwhelmingly positive. Without a doubt, it's been the best festival yet.  We say it again and again, but there really isn't anything like Word anywhere else."