A BRIDPORT festival is launching a new bursary scheme to help students in the area who are planning to go to university this year.

The BridLit bursary, run by Bridport Literary Festival, will allow two successful candidates £1,000 a year for each year of their three-year degree course in any subject.

This year’s Bridport Literary Festival takes place in venues in and around the town from November 5-11, often attracting some big names. 

Chairman of trustees of the festival, Deirdre Coates, said: "The festival is now in its 19th year and we feel we should use surplus funds to help the community that has supported it all these years.

"The ever-growing costs for university students must be working as a deterrent for some and the bursary may go some way to helping two students a year to decide to read for a degree course."

The Bridlit Bursary is open to Year 13 students applying for an undergraduate course beginning in 2023 who are in the Beaminster-Colfox joint sixth-form or who live within Dorset Council’s Bridport ward.

To be considered for one of the two bursaries available for this autumn, students should complete the application form on the Bridport Literary Festival website at bridlit.com/bursaries