KNUTSFORD can compete ‘with the best of them’ when it comes to literature festivals.

That is the view of the organisers of the town’s celebration of literature, which ended on Sunday with a memorable talk by former Home Secretary Alan Johnson.

“This year’s Knutsford Literature Festival started on a high note with a fascinating talk on a new book about Agatha Christie, the Queen of crime, followed by tea and delicious cakes,” said committee member Liz Kempster.

“It ended in a flourish when Alan Johnson gave a moving, memorable and often humorous talk about his early years, his life-long love of music and his new passion for writing, to a packed house at Cottons Hotel and Spa.

“We are delighted with the success of the festival and that Alan agreed to join us.

“The event was really laid-back and relaxed, and Alan was happy to field questions, such as what were his new-found pleasures in writing, and had he and his teen-aged pop group ever made a record and had he ever smoked pot - his answer to both these last two questions was ‘no!’

“The range and quality of speakers at the festival were again first-class.

“Russian specialist Helen Rappaport wrote and illustrated her one-off lecture on the last days of the Romanovs especially for the festivalgoers of Knutsford.

“It was a masterclass on the processes of historical research, and social historian Tessa Boase is taking the illustrated talk she gave at the festival about the campaign against the Edwardian fashion for plumage to the V and A in London later this week.

“We are delighted that we can attract speakers of this calibre to Knutsford. When there are now so many literature festivals throughout the country - especially in the autumn - it’s obvious that Knutsford can compete with the best of them.”