Sedbergh is classed as England’s official Book Town boasting three independent bookshops.

In June, Sedbergh Book Festival sees a number of book-related events for all ages including appearances from a variety of authors and plenty of book fairs. 

The first author to speak at this year's Sedbergh Book Festival was the campaigning former MP Chris Mullin who spoke about his latest political diary, Didn’t You Use to be Chris Mullin? 

The next author to be hosted by the festival is Cumbrian writer of crime and mystery stories Jean Briggs. Speaking at Westwood Books in Sedbergh on June 7 at 7.30pm, Jean will be highlighting gruesome crime reports from the 19th-century from our very own Westmorland Gazette. 

The Westmorland Gazette: Sedburgh Book Festival is taking place throughout June

The author explores some of the extraordinary and sometimes gruesome stories on the front pages. Thomas de Quincey, author, poet and opium addict, was editor of the Westmorland Gazette for eighteeen months during 1818-19. 

More authors will be speaking and signing books at events in June at various venues in Sedbergh.

For more details the programme is at: www.sedbergh.org.uk/booktown and tickets are available from Sedbergh Information Centre (72 Main Street, Sedbergh, 015386 20125. Tickets are available on the door at each event.