WORLD Book Day is being celebrated today with the launch of a brand new book festival. The North Hertfordshire Book festival will comprise almost 40 events across Comet country, including visits from best-selling authors, film screenings, talks, debates a

WORLD Book Day is being celebrated today with the launch of a brand new book festival.

The North Hertfordshire Book festival will comprise almost 40 events across Comet country, including visits from best-selling authors, film screenings, talks, debates and story telling.

The festival, organised by former Comet reporter Sue Fisher, will last for 16 days.

Broadcaster and writer Richard Whitmore, the festival's president, will launch his latest book, The Ghosts of Reginald Hine, at Eric Moore's Bookshop in Bridge Street, Hitchin, from 11am until 1pm on Saturday, March 3.

Appearing at the Surfin Cafe in Letchworth GC on Monday, March 5, are authors Sophie Hannah, whose novel Little Face is currently one of the country's leading best sellers, and Jill Dawson, whose book Watch Me Disappear was January's Book Club of the Month choice in The Mail on Sunday.

Lois Pryce will be recounting her epic 20,000-mile trek by motorbike from Alaska to South America when she visits the Sun Hotel in Hitchin on Friday, March 9.

Rowan Coleman, author of The Accidental Mother, will be talking about her latest book, The Baby Group, on Monday, March 12, at Letchworth GC's Surfin Cafe.

The full programme of events is available on North Herts District Council's website, www.north-herts.gov.uk, or by calling Sue Fisher on 01462 474544.

Other events in the area for World Book Day include a 24-hour charity bedtime read at David's Bookshops in Letchworth GC, starting at 7am and continuing into Friday morning.

The bookshop will be open all night and there will also be a recitation competition at 8pm and a trivia quiz at 10pm.

There will also be a range of events for children in the children's bookshop, including Bugs Bugs Bugs, an array of creepy crawlies, a Harry Potter quiz and on Saturday, March 3, a World Book Day party from 12pm to 5pm.

For more information, ring 01462 684631 or 475910 or email staff@davids-book shops.co.uk