FOUR Stroud children's authors have added a last-minute extravaganza to the Fringe Festival line-up in the shape of Hotter Than Potter? on Sunday, September 11 at The Space - one of a few child-oriented events at the Festival.

Hotter Than Potter? will feature Whitbread prize winner Jamila Gavin, Zeus on the Loose author John Dougherty, author of The Magic Pony series Elizabeth Lindsay and recent arrival to the Stroud Valleys Katherine Roberts, whose debut novel Song Quest won the Branford Boase award in 1999.

Given the eclectic nature of the four authors' writing styles, Hotter Than Potter? will feature the authors talking about "nits, ponies and historical wonders" amongst many other topics.

"The audience is invited to come and take the temperature of Stroud's children's authors," said Jamila. "We'd like to know if there are any budding authors amongst them and what books excite them."

"Are Stroud writers writing what you'd like to read?" asked Dougherty. "Bring your favourite book, wave it around!"

The authors will be reading from their work and taking questions from the audience. They will also be giving away books as prizes.

Hotter Than Potter? is free thanks to sponsorship from the Stroud Bookshop, and there will be a signing session afterwards.

There will also be a special appearance by Topov the monkey from children's TV classic Pipkins, as Elizabeth Lindsay was Topov's puppeteer, which should keep parents of a certain vintage happy.

Children are also invited to help the authors write a story, to be read out during the event.

They will start a story on a long scroll of paper and will leave the story in Stroud Children's Bookshop on Union Street for children to add to.

Hotter Than Potter? is at The Space in Lansdown on Sunday, September 11 at 2pm. Entry is free and the event is for children of seven and above.