A RARE chance to discover how to write a best-selling book attracted more than 40 budding writers to The Brindley.

True Stories - A Readers Day gave people an opportunity to listen to eight professional authors as they led workshops, talked about their work and read extracts.

"The day went well," said Sue Davies, cultural manager.

"People who hadn't been to The Brindley before really loved the venue and gave very positive feedback about the quality of the event."

It was organised as part of Talkwrite, Halton's first ever literature festival.

Authors included top TV scriptwriter Carmel Morgan, whose new BBC3 comedy drama series Drop Dead Gorgeous, set in Runcorn, starts on Sunday.

Novelist June Francis read some of her Liverpool family sagas.

Sophie Hannah explained how to plot, write and sell a great crime novel.

Historian Max Arthur, a bestselling popular historian, read from his new book Lost Voices of the Edwardians.

Rommi Smith, Margaret Murphy, Martin Edwards and Trevor Norton also gave lots of inspiration.