From cookery to crime, there is a packed week in store for literary lovers as the Kingston Readers' Festival continues.

The festival aims to bring together authors, journalists and critics for a series of debates, readings and seminars, and runs until May 23.

Highlights for this week includes best-selling author of A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, Marina Lewycka, speaking at All Saints Church at 6.30pm on May 19.

Crime writer John Connolly will talk about his new offering, The Reapers, at Borders, Market Place on Wednesday, May 14 at 7pm and Leith's Cookery School will give food and wine demonstrations at John Lewis on Thursday, May 15 at 7.30pm.

India Russell, a poet from Worcester park, will be reading from her collection, The Kaleidoscope of Time, at Kingston Museum at 7.30pm on May 16 and there is a discussion on Salman Rushdie at Kingston University on May 17 at 11.30am.

Tickets can be booked by visiting the Rose Theatre box office, by calling 0871 230 1552 or visiting rosetheatrekingston.org For a full listing of events, visit kingston.ac.uk/krf