Acts including Johnny Vegas and Ed Byrne have been unveiled in the line-up for the first Glasgow International Comedy Festival.

More than 70 acts will take to the stage during the city's first major comedy festival, which gets under way in March.

It is hoped that the three-week festival will attract thousands of overseas visitors and provide a �3m boost for the local economy.

Staging the event has cost the city council and the various venues involved about �100,000.

Johnny Vegas will perform his only UK show this year

Tommy Sheppard, director of organisers The Stand Out Comedy Agency, said the festival will attracts a varied audience.

"We will have a bit of everything, from character acts, political satirists, poets, live stand-up to plays and films," he said.

"Add to that the fact we have managed to attract some of the biggest names in comedy today, then you will see that we are on to a real winner."

Festival co-ordinator Linda Allan said Glasgow was the perfect city to stage such an event.

She said: "The people of Glasgow are renowned for their sense of humour and there is plenty of accommodation, public transport and tourist attractions to cater for visitors.

International showcase

"This is simply a great showcase for local as well as international talent."

Johnny Vegas, a regular guest on BBC's Shooting stars show, is one of the highlights of the programme, when he will perform his only UK show this year.

Daniel Kitson, Perrier Award winner at last year's Edinburgh Festival, is set to perform, as are Whose Line Is It Anyway stars Greg Proops and Mark Thomas.

Irish stars Ed Byrne and Frank Carson will also take to the stage, as will Scots Johnny Beattie, Phil Kay and Jerry Sadowitz.

US comic hero Rich Hall will appear as his internationally renowned character Otis Lee Crenshaw.