THE gripping first chapter of Ilkley's annual literature festival began on Friday night with a show by a former Poet Laureate.

The festival, which runs over two weeks, will feature over 250 events across the town, but things got started last night with an "exploration of poetry and prose" with Sir Andrew Motion. Held in the town's Kings Hall, the event saw the writer introduce his new novel, The New World, a sequel to Treasure Island.

Over the weekend there were dozens of events for both adults and young readers, including an early morning workshop by this year's poet in residence Kim Moore, a masterclass from award winning poet Ian Duhig in the Manor House Museum, a meet and greet with children's author Lauren Child, the woman behind hugely popular Charlie and Lola, and a talk in Kings Hall by broadcaster, writer and former MP Gyles Brandreth.

For more information and to buy tickets, call (01943) 816714 or visit ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk.