THE Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, David Briggs, has officially launched a new literary exhibition in Blackden.

The exhibition celebrates the 50th anniversary of the publication of Alan Garner's prize-winning novel, The Owl Service, in August 1967.

The novel was later adapted into a Granada TV series, and the Petals and Claws multimedia exhibition includes photography, video, painting, sculpture, music and poetry.

It will be held at the Old Medicine House, saved by Alan from demolition on its original Staffordshire site and rebuilt in Blackden, near Goostrey.

Alan and his wife Griselda helped to host the launch event, where talks were given by Alan's daughter, Katharine Darby, and David Heke, who helped inspire the exhibition.

Griselda said: “The Owl Service confirmed Alan’s literary reputation winning two important literary prizes – the Guardian Award and the Carnegie Medal.

“The Petals and Claws exhibition will be touring for the next year, but the Blackden venue is unique. It is where the novel was written, and there is an extraordinary interaction between the exhibition and the house that creates an atmosphere that has an effect on all visitors.”