Priority booking for one of Hexham's much-loved annual events has opened today.

Hexham Book Festival will be held in a spiegeltent, a large travelling tent from the Netherlands, within the Hexham Abbey Grounds between July 2 and July 11.

Booking opened for Festival Friends at 7am this morning.

For general bookings, tickets will be on sale tomorrow (May 5) at 7am.

The festival was unable to go ahead last year due to lockdown restrictions.

Many of the authors which were due to appear in 2020 have pledged their support for the event this year.

Guests include Jung Chang, Gavin Esler, Luke Jennings and Hollie McNish.

A new children’s book festival will run alongside the traditional book festival programme. It will host events for schools during weekdays, with funding available to bring children from far-reaching areas of Northumberland to Hexham to enjoy it.

Over the weekend of July 10-11, the Speigeltent will be taken over with family events, including some hands-on workshops, children’s shows, circus skills and opportunities for young writers to perform their work.

The investment in a children’s festival is made possible through funding from the Gillian Dickinson Trust, and Arts Council England.

For the full programme and to book events, visit: hexhambookfestival.co.uk

Tickets can also be booked through the external Box Office by calling 0333 666 3366.

The Queen's Hall Box Office is not open.