A POPULAR literature festival has been hailed a success.

Hexham Book Festival 2024 celebrated its 18th year this month with another eclectic mix of authors and events.

The book festival opened with Will Hutton, Alastair Campbell and Ian Dunt in a sell-out event and closed with Wes Streeting MP, Shadow Minster of State for Health and Social Care.

Jackie Kay and Imtiaz Dharker were supported by local poetry publishing company Bloodaxe Books.

Audiences also enjoyed the fiction section of the event which featured David Nicholls, famous for recent Netflix hit One Day and Clare Balding, who charmed the crowd with her new book Isle of Dogs.

Farming, Football and Philosophy also proved to be a big hit as Helen Rebanks revealed how life really is on her Cumbrian farm. North East authors Harry Pearson and Michael Chaplin chatted about the region’s football and philosophers Philip Goff and Paul Strathern proved to be entertaining and thought-provoking.

The book festival isn’t over yet as two bestselling authors had to re-schedule their events. Tickets are still available for Marianna Spring and Cathy Newman appearing on the evening of June 30.

The Festival for Families and Schools is also coming back to Hexham from June 30.

This event is a 'one-day bonanza' for families and will take place in the Queen’s Hall and park on the Sunday.

It will also be followed by a week of fabulous events for schools in the Queen’s Hall.

The festival continues to programme events across the county in schools and libraries throughout the year with the support of Northumberland County Council helping everyone access the written and spoken word.

Founder-Director Susie Troup said: “I am thrilled and delighted by the reception of what started as an idea in 2005. Our attendance was up on 2023, which is fantastic news.”

Janie French, from Hexham Community Partnership, also added: “The Festival goes from strength-to-strength every year and attracts well-known writers, poets, broadcasters and politicians to Hexham to sell-out crowds and proving a boon to the local economy. Long may it continue!”