The sixth instalment of a popular annual crime writers' festival will be 'bigger and better than ever,' organisers have promised.

The line-up for the Slaughter in Southwold festival will again feature numerous well-known local and national crime writers giving talks at the event on June 16 and June 17.

The event takes place at Southwold Arts Centre and is part of Southwold Arts Festival. Slaughter in Southwold is organised by Southwold library manager Charlotte Clark with support from the Friends of Southwold Library and the Crime Writers Association.

This year's packed programme features Mark Billingham, Robert Goddard, Peter Guttridge, Sophie Hannah, Mary-Jane Riley, Dame Stella Rimmington, Simon Scarrow, Martyn Waites and Edward Wilson.

There will also be a range of other activities on offer including a murder mystery night based on The Wenlock Mummy by Elly Griffiths, Taking place on Friday, June 15, at 7pm there will be a meal from Café 51, as visitors test their abilities as a sleuth. A fun crime quiz night, with prizes, will also be held on Saturday, June 16 at 7pm.

For the first time there will also be screenings of a series of classic crime film double bills, which will be screened at the Arts Centre, between June 13 and June 15. Films include The Big Sleep, Key Largo, Touch of Evil, The Third Man, Strangers on a Train, Dial M for Murder, Double Indemnity and The Postman Always Rings Twice. There is also an opportunity to have lunch at 1pm on the weekend of the festival and meet the authors.

Southwold library manager Charlotte Clark said: 'I'm really excited about this year's programme which is bigger and better than ever. I hope that screening some classic crime movies in the run up to the festival will help to get everyone in the mood. The event is a big part of the Suffolk calendar now and I hope as many people as possible come along to Southwold and enjoy it.'

Tickets are £5 per author talk, £15 for a day pass, or £30 for the whole weekend (lunches not included). Full details of the programme and ticketing information is available from www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/slaughter or www.ticketsource.co.uk/slaughterinsouthwold

Tickets can also be bought at the library or call 01502 722519.