LITFEST staff celebrated the end of a fantastic year.

Its annual and ever-growing literature festival expanded on to virgin territory with events in Morecambe, Carnforth, Clitheroe and Fleetwood, as well as blazing an ambitious and vibrant trail of sessions in its homebase city of Lancaster.

A wider range of writers, new formats from late-night cutting edge cabaret to intimate library-based chats with top novelists.

You name LitFest tried it.

In addition, LitFest has set up regular groups for people to share their love of books and writing, stimulating the creative talents of writers and readers across the north of the county with its development project, New Pages.

Those taking part have written and published their own books, read all sorts of novels and poetry, and shared their ideas and opinions.

Theyve performed their work at LitFest, worked alongside professional scribes and readers-in-residence and picked up handy hints to continue developing their own talents.

Winding down for the Christmas break, publicity officer Sue Parish told me: "Its been a great year for us.

Weve had wonderfully positive feedback from participants in all our activities, and New Pages has allowed us to reach out to even more people.

"We'd like to say a big thank you to all those who have helped LitFest this

year".