A HOST of events are being lined up for Harwich as part of the Essex Book Festival’s opening weekend.

Author events and writing workshops will be taking place from March 1 until March 3 to celebrate the annual festival.

For the opening weekend, there will be writing classes in the 1912 Centre, in Cow Lane, on Saturday, March 2, and Sunday, March 3.

An Essex Book Festival spokesman said: “This includes a very special Swallows and Amazons Essex-focus led by the Arthur Ransome Society, which celebrates the 80th anniversary of Secret Water, which is set on the Essex Coast.”

On Sunday, March 3, visitors can head down to the Ha’penny Pier for an experience not to be missed on board the LV18 between noon and 4pm.

There will be tales from traditional storyteller Shane Ibbs, live music from Southend-based all-female shanty band The Silver Darlings and Mueller and Malten’s Live Poetry Jukebox.

The Redoubt Fort will also be hosting a series of author events on Sunday, March 3.

This will include readings by Essex Book Festival patron and award-winning writer Al Kennedy who will be reading from her latest book The Little Snake.

A host of workshops, storytelling, live music and a giant interactive big write wall led by local author Anita Bell will also take place.

Essex Book Festival takes place in 46 venues across