THERE'S a new criminal element to Harrogate's usual summer events calendar this year.

The town's International Festival is still attracting big names - Dionne Warwick and Cleo Laine are among the stars due to appear between Friday, July 18, and Friday, August 1.

But, in addition to the now traditional Fiesta in the Valley Gardens on Sunday, July 20, and a host of classical, jazz and world music, the festival fortnight is complemented by the first Harrogate Crime Writing Festival.

The creator of Inspector Morse, Colin Dexter, is the guest of honour and will be in conversation with the producer of the ITV series, Chris Burt.

A crime-writing forum will be chaired by South Bank University lecturer Margaret Kinsman while North-East actor Robson Green will be a panellist on another which focuses on crime on television.

A session involving the creator of Dalziel and Pascoe, Reginald Hill, and an evening quiz on the work of Agatha Christie, are also on the programme between Thursday, July 17, and Sunday, July 20.

Full information about both the Harrogate International Festival and the Crime-Writing Festival are available by telephoning (01423) 537230.