Last updated 15:53, Wednesday, 19 March 2008

OVER 50 local artists and craftspeople have contributed work for a festival in Santon Bridge.

Also featuring at the free bumper event will be three local authors.

Venue for the exhibition, now in its second year, will be Santon Bridge village hall and it takes place on Easter Saturday and Sunday, from 10am until 5pm.

Last year’s event surprised the organisers by revealing a rich seam of local creativity. Artists, wood turners and carvers, potters, sculptors, quilters and other craftspeople all came forward and agreed to take part.

And this year there are local authors too, some of who have agreed to sign copies of their book at the event.

“It’s amazing really,” said Jim Baker, chair of the village hall committee. “When we started talking to people about local authors it became clear that, as with the arts and crafts, there is a great resource in the area.

“We hope our event will help to showcase this local talent – and of course raise some much needed funds for the upkeep of the village hall.”

Wasdale resident Eric Robson, a well known broadcaster and chair of Radio Four’s Gardeners’ Question Time will be signing books at 2pm on Easter Saturday.

Cumbrian author Gareth Thompson will be signing books from 1pm on Easter Sunday.

His book The Great Harlequin Grim is based around Coniston and his second novel Sunshine to the Sunless is based in and around Millom.

Patrick Gordon-Duff-Pennington, of Muncaster Castle, will be signing books at 2pm on Easter Sunday.

For more information telephone Ian Warren on 019467 26233.