TAVISTOCK will be celebrating 1,000 years of history this October, with the launch of its first ever heritage festival.

The festival will highlight and celebrate Tavistock's unique history and heritage through a series of different events for people of all ages and interests.

For three days the town will be alive with exhibitions, displays, talks, guided walks, concerts, workshops, plays, a mediaeval market and a variety of living history events all highlighting some key moments in the town's history.

The festival will open at the town hall on Friday, October 24 with renowned historian Dr Ian Mortimer and master of the medieval murder mystery novel Michael Jecks joining forces to debate 'History, folklore and historical fiction — comfortable bedfellows?' followed by a book signing at the Bedford Hotel.

The Saturday evening will see St Eustachius' Church reverberating with a celebration of Dartmoor song, dance and dialect courtesy of Dartmoor Pixie Band, Jim Causley, Bill Murray and Geoff Lakeman.

On the Sunday evening the Wharf will be hosting the Regarding Eve's company's humorous 'Unreliable History of Tavistock'.

During the day on the Saturday and Sunday there will be living history events throughout the town focusing on the history of the Abbey, Francis Drake and the Mining Heritage, followed by a mediaeval market in Tavistock Pannier Market on the Sunday and Monday.

Festival chairman Dr Geri Parlby said: 'Tavistock has an enormously rich history and heritage and as our organising committee includes some of Devon's leading historians, archaeologists and heritage experts we hope that the 2014 festival will be the first of many.

'The planning of the events is still in its early stages but we are confident that there will be something to appeal to everyone throughout the three days.'

The festival is being supported by Devon County Council, West Devon Borough Council and Tavistock Town Council together with a variety of other local organisations ranging from Tavistock Rotary Club, the History Society, Tavistock College, Kelly College, Tavistock Museum, Devon County Library, The Robey Trust, The Alexander Centre and Tavistock Townscape Heritage Partnership.