Essex Book Festival

With the Essex Book Festival acknowledged as one of the biggest and best of its kind, reading has never been more popular in the county.

Now it's set to get even more literary with the BBC Big Book Swap taking place at the Colchester Arts Centre on Thursday, 6, March.

The event, which takes place on World Book Day, is organised by BBC RaW, with the aim of getting people to swap their old books for new ones - whilst also encouraging people to share their passion for reading with others.

The Big Book Swap takes place from 2 until 7pm and people are asked to bring along three or four books which they can then swap with a load of new ones that will be available.

Amongst the books you'll be able to pick up are a number of the new 'Quick Read' books, written by the likes of Vanessa Feltz, Gordon Ramsey and Colin Jackson, plus lots of second hand books which have been donated for you to try out.

For more information about the BBC Big Book Swap, head to the BBC RaW website, or call the BBC Essex Helpline on 01245 348348.