THE Chalke Valley History Festival is well underway with a host of events taking place in Ebbesbourne Wake until Sunday.

Having started on Monday, the week has already seen hundreds of children take part in the schools festival and speakers such as Max Hastings, AC Grayling and Michael Morpurgo take to the stage.

Festival director Jane Pleydell-Bouverie said: “The festival has raised the bar each year and, along with everyone else, I am hugely looking forward to hearing our amazing lineup of speakers.

“As the shockwaves of recent events reverberate across our country and continent and into history, the insights of experts - such as Peter Mandelson, Charles Moore and Peter Frankopan - will be particularly fascinating, while debates on such topics as the future of Trident, even more relevant.

“If ever there was a time for us to learn from the lessons of the past, it is now.”

On Monday, 750 Year 6 children attended the schools festival with 500 Year 10 pupils attending on Tuesday and 600 Year 12 due to attend yesterday (Wednesday).

Taking place in Ebbesbourne Wake, the seven-day festival will see more than 140 speakers delivering wide-ranging talks, from the time of the ancients to more contemporary subjects.

In addition to speakers, there will be living history entertainment including combat displays and interactive experiences as well as a series of short air displays with historic aircraft across the weekend.

It is the UK’s largest festival dedicated entirely to history.