A major Scottish book festival has been saved by an unexpected donation from a charitable foundation set up by a late EuroMillions winner from Largs.

Organisers of Glasgow’s Aye Write festival announced in March that the 2024 event would not take place after arts body Creative Scotland turned down its bid for cash, sparking an outcry from leading literary figures and politicians.

But the Colin Weir Charitable Foundation, set up by late EuroMillions winner Colin Weir, has donated £65,000 to enable the festival to stage a series of pop-up events and a scaled-down version of Wee Write this year.

The planned “pop-up” events, taking place from next month onwards, include crime writer Val McDermid in conversation with former first minister Nicola Sturgeon at The Old Fruitmarket on May 21.

Actors Alan Cumming and Forbes Masson will also appear at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on August 8.

A spokesman for the Colin Weir Charitable Foundation said: “We are pleased to be able to support Aye Write to put on a programme of great events in 2024.

“It was unthinkable that Aye Write should be silenced until next year. Happily, the donation means that won’t be the case.”

Rather than a full festival over several consecutive days, a series of pop-up Aye Write events will take place during 2024 and in the new year.

Wee Write, the festival for children and young people, will go ahead this autumn.

Bailie Annette Christie, chairwoman of Glasgow Life, which organises the event, said: “Aye Write is a much-loved festival, which is apparent from the outpouring of support over the past few weeks.

“The generous donation from the Colin Weir Charitable Foundation means it can continue to have a positive impact on Glaswegians and people throughout Scotland.”

The Booker Prize-winning author Douglas Stuart and Ms Sturgeon were among those who voiced their dismay when news of the festival’s cancellation emerged in March.

Glasgow Life said it is continuing to develop a multi-year funding application to Creative Scotland for future editions of the festivals.

It said that if this is successful, Aye Write will return in full in 2025, 2026 and 2027.

Tickets for the festival are on sale  at the Aye Write website at glasgowlife.org.uk/arts-music-and-culture/aye-write-glasgows-book-festival.

Colin Weir and his then wife Chris hit the headlines when they scooped the £161 million Euromillions jackpot in the summer of 2011.

At the time it was the biggest lottery win in Europe though that record has since been overtaken.

Mr Weir died aged 71 in December 2019, following a short illness.