A BESTSELLING author is returning home to read sections of his books during an audience with fans.

Howard Linskey, who has penned the David Blake trilogy of crime novels, The Dead, The Damage and The Drop, is to appear at Cleves Cross Primary School, Ferryhill.

Mr Linskey, who moved to Ferryhill aged ten, did not attend Cleves Cross, but is appearing to help raise funds for the school.

He will read extracts from his books including latest novel No Name Lane which is to be released by Penguin next March.

He will also hold a question and answer session at the event on Saturday (November 15) which starts at 7.30pm.

"I’ll be giving a talk on the long road to getting published and I’ll read from the David Blake books and from my new novel which I have just finished.

“It will be really nice on Saturday but as it’s my home town I’ll probably be more nervous doing this than any of my other appearances as an author around the world.

”We’re trying to raise money for the school so I hope a good number of people turn up for the evening.”

No Name Lane is based in the North-East and features a local journalist, a tabloid journalist returning to his native North-East and a detective who all team up to solve a mystery.

Jackie Whittaker, a teaching assistant at the school, said: “It’s lovely to bring a local boy who has done well into the school.”

Tickets are £5 and they include a pie and pea supper. Tickets can be picked up on the door but they should be ordered in advance from the school on 01740-651599.