ECHO Memories journalist Chris Lloyd will be signing copies of the fantastic new book, A Walk in the Park: Memories of Darlington 4, in Ottakar's, in the Cornmill Centre, on Saturday, from 11.30am to 1.30pm.

The book costs £6.50 - with 50p going to create a historical information board in South Park - and tells the story of the first municipal park in the North-East and all the wonderful nick-nacks that it has accumulated from all of the world.

In one park, we sledge to Russia, honeymoon with Lord Byron, get drunk with the teetotallers, and get spooked by a famous ghost.

Unfortunately, this Saturday is probably the worst possible time in literary history to be signing books in Ottakar's. Directly opposite on High Row, Waterstone's bookshop is opening. And Waterstone's has real celebs doing signings: legendary comic Eric Sykes and legendary children's character, the Gruffalo.

Both Eric Sykes and the Gruffalo are much bigger than Echo Memories.

So, even if you don't want to buy a copy of the book, please come to Ottakar's for a chat!

You can also buy A Walk in the Park from The Northern Echo's Priestgate offices, from Park Lodge in South Park and from the Tourist Information Centre in Houndgate. On-line, it can be found at www.shoppersworld.co.uk and by post for £7.50 (cheques made payable to Newsquest North-East) from A Walk in the Park, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington DL1 1NF.