The annual Balham Literary Festival is back, giving people the chance to get lost in the world of books.

The festival will run throughout June, with the main weekend on Friday, June 8 till Sunday, June 10.

The theme of this year’s festival is summer loving, and the selected main venue is The Balham Bowls Club, Ramsden Road.

There will be many events running at the festival for people of all ages.

Children will be able to take part in story-time with Dr Anne Rooney on Saturday, June 2. Anne will read The Dinosaur Atlas, where children aged six to ten will learn fascinating facts about how dinosaurs lived and where they lived. The free event will be at 11.30 am at Balham Library and to attend register online.

Children can take part in a writing workshop with Natasha Farrant on Sunday, June 10. Natasha, the author of The Children of Castle Rock, will be holding a writing workshop full of twists for children aged eight to twelve at Balham Bowls Club from 10am.

Adults can listen to various authors discussing their new books during the festival.

Hanan al-Shaykh, an acclaimed writer will be in conversation with Elif Shafak at Balham Bowls Club on Wednesday, June 6 at 7pm. Hanan is publishing her new novel The Occasional Virgin, a funny romantic comedy and will be talking to Elif, the author of ten novels.

See parenthood through the eyes of Simon Hooper, the author of Forever Outnumbered. On Friday, June 8, Simon will escape his four daughters to join an audience at Balham Bowls Club from 7:30pm.

To purchase tickets and for more information on events visit https://balhamliteraryfestival.co.uk/.