Ex-Labour shadow chancellor and home secretary Alan Johnson is to speak at Dumbarton Library on Friday as part of this month's Booked literary festival.

Mr Johnson will talk with Sunday Herald editor Neil Mackay about the third volume of his highly-acclaimed autobiography, A Long and Winding Road.

The book traces Mr Johnson's time through his leadership of the Union of Communication Workers, and right through to his time as Home Secretary, completing the journey from childhood that begun in the opening two volumes of the memoirs.

Speaking to the Reporter, Mr Johnson said: "For those that read the first two books, you should expect more of the same and it really completes the life story that I've started to tell in the first two books.

"I hope people realise that this isn't designed to be a political memoir and it's really about the people and the personalities and tries to describe what it felt like to work in the House of Commons because for a long time, I didn't really feel as if I ever really belonged in that place."

The third book is an eagerly awaited release, with Mr Johnson's opening two volumes winning several awards, including the National Book Awards 'Autobiography of the Year' award for the second book, 'Please, Mister Postman'.

He says that he has really embraced the process of writing the books and is looking forward to answering the questions of the local audience on the contents of the novel.

Mr Johnson said: "I do find writing really enjoyable and I used to write silly, little stories when I was fifteen and send them to publishers, waiting for the rejection letters. I love the process of it all and I know from previous literary festivals that I've been to that people are really interested in the mechanics of writing."

The talk gets under way at 7.30pm, with tickets free.

The talk takes place next Friday at the library at the end of the first week of the literary festival, organised by West Dunbartonshire Council. The itinerary for the week also includes a lecture given by Glasgow Girl Amal Azzudin at the Millennium Hall in Gartocharn, and the return of the Old Firm Panel Event, hosted by well-known sports journalist Hugh Keevins at Faifley Library.