Ottakar's store kicks off book war in Guildford

Guildford could prove to be a testing battleground for three of the UK's biggest book retailers this Christmas, as Ottakar's opens its latest store there this weekend.

The town is also the site of the new-look WHSmith and two Waterstone's, one on North Street and one on the High Street.

Ottakar's opens its 118th store in the town this Saturday, opposite WHSmith, where books have been moved upstairs as part of a trial.

The 10,000 sq ft (930 sq m) store will stock more than 80,000 titles and authors lined up to visit the store for signings before Christmas include Martin Bell, Michael Palin, Nigella Lawson and children's writer Jacqueline Wilson.