Literature, art and country life come together this weekend as a Pembrokeshire village plays host to Wales’s newest book festival - with the help of a cow called Charlotte.

Charlotte - named after the eldest of the Bronte sisters - has agreed to be the mascot for the inaugural Llangwm Literary Festival which starts today (Friday).

Sadly, she’s unlikely to be promoting a book as she’ll be hard at work on all three days of the festival, producing milk at Llangwm Farm in the village.

Given Llangwm’s rural heritage and the importance of dairy farming, it was felt by organiser and founder Michael Pugh that Charlotte would be a valuable addition to the team.

“We thought that she would be a good unifying mascot as cows feature in a range of fantastical stories, including the Welsh folk tale of Buwch Frech, the freckled cow who gave abundant milk.

“I know cows aren’t normally seen as particularly cerebral but I believe she will be warmly welcomed to take her place alongside authors appearing at the festival such as Griff Rhys Jones and Ferdinand Mount.

“But as well as authors both famous and newly in the spotlight, such as Thomas Morris who won Wales Book of the Year 2016 and Jo Mazelis, winner of the Jerwood Fiction Uncovered Prize 2015, we have local artists opening their studios.

“And of course for a small village, Llangwm boasts a remarkable number of talented artists.”

According to one of them, Graham Brace, it’s all down to Llangwm’s estuary-side location.

“The surrounding countryside, the rhythm of the tides, the wildlife and the quality of the light combine to inspire us and make us truly creative,” he said.

Graham will be exhibiting work in the Wesleyan Chapel on Llangwm Village Green, alongside other Llangwm artists, including the landscape photographer David Wilson, David Thomas, Liz Monk, Sam Howley, and Anna Smallman.

Others will be opening their studios from 12-4 pm each day of the festival, including Anne Farrall Doyle, Ian Jacob, Fiona Cutting, Jasmine Cutting and Fran Evans. All live within easy walking distance of festival headquarters and a trail map will be available.

As well as the art and literature, there’ll be several community-based events, including a singer song-writing session for people with learning difficulties, poetry for dementia sufferers, a creative writing workshop for children based on Roald Dahl’s fictional characters, and a special free event featuring Nathan Stephens, the former Paralympian and javelin world record holder.

Professor Tony Curtis and Grahame Davies will be reading poems in English and Welsh, and talking ‘Real South Pembrokeshire.’

There’ll also be music events in the evenings including the Llangwm-based Village Voices choir and Paul Hayes and the Vagrants’ Crew.

The Llangwm Literary Festival runs from Friday, August 12, to Sunday, August 14, and tickets are available from the website, www.llangwmlitfest.co.uk.