THE legacy of the Miners’ Strike 30 years takes centre stage as the North-East’s biggest book festival begins this week.

“The Beast of Bolsover” Dennis Skinner will discuss his long career on the political Left, former Blairite minister Chris Mullin will assess the legacy of Tony Benn and County Durham-born broadcaster and journalist Anne McElvoy will share her experiences of revisiting Easington for this year’s Durham Book Festival.

But the focus was ancient and global, rather than modern and local, at the annual festival’s first event today (Monday, October 6), with poet Daljit Nagra retelling the millennia-old Hindu story the Ramayana for pupils at Durham Johnston School, in a spectacular show complete with music, animation and drama.

“I don’t think there could be any better beginning,” Mr Nagra said.

“It’s probably as ambitious as any event in the festival.”

The festival runs until October 20, with readings, events, performances and more across the county.

Exclusive to the festival, Michael Chaplin will assess how the North-East has changed since his acclaimed father Sid Chaplin was writing in 1951, broadcaster Stuart Maconie will report on his quest to find the best of County Durham in ‘The Dales to Durham Cathedral’ and Dipton-born Ms McElvoy, public policy editor at The Economist, will discuss whether, three decades after the death of King Coal, Underground Coal Gasification means there may yet be a future for the industry – predicting east Durham could once again have a “nationally significant role” to play.

Elsewhere, there will be appearances by broadcasters Kirsty Wark and Kate Adie, actress Sheila Hancock, author Jung Chang and performance poet Kate Tempest and the festival laureate is Paul Farley.

Durham-based Sacristy Press will fly the flag for the region, with David Willem asking whether St Cuthbert’s pectoral cross ever belonged to the revered Northern saint and Kevin Carey retelling the Bible’s New Testament for the 21st century.

Christian physicist Professor Tom McLeish will discuss faith and science with the Very Reverend Michael Sadgrove, the Dean of Durham, and there will be various events for children.

Full details are available at durhambookfestival.com