ONE of Glasgow's most famous streets was buzzing with Glasgow banter as a brand new literary event got underway.

The inaugural Byres Road Book Festival, a four-day celebration of the written work, will open today in the city's West End.

And getting into the festival spirit was Douglas Lindsay, author of the Barney Thomson books about a Glasgow serial killer barber, which was turned into a major motion picture with Robert Carlyle, Emma Thompson and Ray Winstone.

Swapping a pen for clippers, Douglas was spreading the word about his new book, Song of The Dead.

Waterstones, Hillhead Library and the Oxfam bookshop are hosting a jam-packed programme of poetry, animated stories and discussions.

The festival will offer audiences of all ages a chance to creatively connect with some of their favourite authors incluignTartan Noir novelist Christopher Brookmyre.

Mark Leggatt, author of two international thrillers, Names of the Dead and The London Cage will chair a lighthearted panel discussion looking at the humorous side of crime on Friday, from 6pm -7pm in Hillhead Library.

A host of family events will be held on Monday including a book reading from award–winning author/illustrator Alison Murray, who will read from her latest picture book Hare and Tortoise, from 11-12noon in the same venue.

Mental health project, The Depressed Cake Shop, will be hosting a pop-up cafe on Sunday in the Oxfam Book Shop.

The project provides a platform for people to discuss mental health issues and also raise funds for mental illness charities and has branches world-wide.

Book offers and discounts will be available from all participating festival venues during September to encourage people all of ages to read more and enjoy their local shops.

The festival is the result of a partnership between the Byres Road & Lanes Business Improvement District (BID) Glasgow Life, Waterstones and Oxfam.

The BID scheme aims to improve the economic vitality of Byres Road, promoting the area to local residents and visitors.i

Tickets for all events are free and are available from www.byresroadbookfestival.com where a full program of events is available.