AUTHOR Imogen Robertson joined volunteers for a special evening to raise money and support for a community library which has to raise over £8,000 a year to keep going.

Ms Robertson who was born and brought up in Darlington was the guest speaker at Bedale community library’s author evening. Specialising in crime drama in the 1700s, the novelist is a previous winner of the Crime Writers Association's Historical Dagger award. She told library members how she writes her books sat at the kitchen table and relies on extensive research.

She said: "It was a great honour to be invited along, support for libraries is absolutely vital, they offer such opportunities for community and learning. They are also crucial to the industry and in these difficult times it is wonderful to see people coming together and supporting the library and making it somewhere so special. I used them all the time when I was growing up and still do.”

Chair of the Friends of Bedale Library Susan Perkins said: “The backing of a writer such as Imogen Robertson is very encouraging.”