A FEAST of literary treats was on offer at the Ryedale Book Festival in Malton at the weekend.

The event included something for all ages, including a movie night for youngsters with author Cressida Cowell, followed by a day of fun literary activities inspired by stories about dragons.

For older readers there was an music memoir evening with biographer and former Home Secretary Alan Johnson, who shared a Desert Island Discs-style musical journey through his life.

Fans of fiction were also treated to romance with Ryedale author Jane Lovering, crime with Stephen Booth and history with Tim Pears and Tracy Borman.

Festival director Sarah Tyson said: “Cressida Cowell was a fantastic start to our children’s programme. She inspired a room full of children who were delighted to receive a signed and personally dedicated copy of her brand new sequel to the Wizards of Once.

“Our cinema evening was well received too and all the events on Saturday in the Wesley Centre and across town were well attended by children of all ages.

“Equally fortunate were we to welcome former Home Secretary Alan Johnson to speak for the first time publicly about his new memoir entitled In My Life.

“The evening panned out as I hoped it would with fascinating anecdotes interspersed with the music that influenced his journey from teenager to elected member of parliament.

“Everyone who met him was impressed by what a modest gentleman and excellent speaker he was.

“I am particularly grateful to the hosts who made our special guests so welcome and to all the volunteers who ran the events and looked after the venues.

“From sound and lighting, to blowing up balloons and running the ticket office, it was a fantastic team effort and I am proud of how professional we are and how much can be achieved on a shoe-string budget.”