HIGH profile authors will soon make the trip to Hexham as part of its annual book festival.

The line-up for the Hexham Book Festival includes household names like Ed Balls, alongside TV personalities like Julian Norton, of The Yorkshire Vet, and best-selling authors Val McDermid and Paula Hawkins.

There’s also the chance to hear from new authors like Hannah-Azieb Pool who tells the powerful story of how she returned to Eritrea at the age of 30 to meet her family for the first time in her memoir My Fathers’ Daughter.

Director Susie Troup said: “We’ve had a great response to our programme this year and although tickets are selling fast, there’s still time to book onto some really interesting events.

“From high profile, authors, thinkers and politicians to lively performance events and a fantastic family festival, StoryLand, there really is something for everyone to enjoy.

“We’re grateful to Hexham Abbey and our partners Queen’s Hall Arts, as well as our many friends, funders and supporters in helping us stage an event of this calibre in Hexham.”

Running from June 10-19, the festival takes place at venues across Hexham, including the Queen’s Hall Arts Centre and a vintage Spiegeltent in the grounds of Hexham Abbey.