The first St Albans Literary Festival has kicked off in style!

Presented by the Herts Advertiser, the festival promises a further three days of exciting events celebrating literature in all its forms, from journalism and blogging to chick lit and historical fiction.

Yesterday brought legendary broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan to the city for a sold-out evening of chat and charm.

Elsewhere St Albans Cathedral’s Abbot’s Kitchen hosted a murder mystery dinner featuring Kate Griffin, MJ Arlidge and James Carol, and St Albans Library was the venue for a special talk on the history of polar exploration featuring Isobel Williams and Nick Rennison.

Sponsors Debenhams Ottaway held an interactive evening focusing on Women in Business, and the Oxfam Bookshop welcomed Rita Edah and John Lapwood for a session on Change and Life Development.

The day saw various literary events taking place at schools across the district, featuring authors Dawn Finch, Tamysn Murray, Jonathan Stroud and Pete Johnson, and Herts Advertiser editor Matt Adams held journalism workshops at a host of schools aimed at encouraging the next generation of journalists.

There are plenty more events taking place today including bedtime stories for little ones at Waterstones tonight from 6pm, a Criminal Masterminds event tonight at Dagnall Street Baptist Church with Ben Aaronovitch (Rivers of London), James Runcie (Grantchester) and Leigh Russell (Geraldine Steel) hosted by BBC presenter Martine Croxall, and Girls’ Night Out at Westminster Lodge with Angela Clarke (Confessions Of A Fashionista) and top chick-lit authors iRowan Coleman (The Accidental Mother, The Memory Book), Liz Frazer (The Yummy Mummy’s Survival Guide, Lifeshambles) and Rachael Lucas (Sealed With A Kiss).

For details on these events and the rest of the Literary Festival programme for the weekend, visit the website at www.stalbansliteraryfestival.co.uk