A FESTIVAL celebrating one of Hampshire’s best known authors is coming to the county.

Fans of Jane Austen will be out in force next month for eight-days of activities and events.

The week will start on June 20 when Alton will turn back the clocks for carriage rides, costumes, dancing workshops and market stalls for its Regency Day, ending with its Regency Ball.

Historian Jane Hurst will give walkers a tour of key places Jane visited near her final home in Chawton on June 21-27.

On June 22 Abigail Reynold will lead a talk entitled Mr Darcy: Still Sexy after 200 Years, exploring the heroes of Jane’s books and on June 24 Eleanor Houghton will speak about regency costume.

Then, on June 27 Professor John Mullan, author of What Matters in Jane Austen?: Twenty Crucial Puzzles Solved, will lead a talk entitled Is Emma Ever Right?

Meanwhile fans can soak up 20th century music on June 26.

Throughout the event there will be tours of Chawton House, once home to Jane Austen’s brother, and there will be a workshop where readers can learn to write their own Austenesque novel.

The week will end with an all-day Victorian cricket match on The Butts Green on June 28 followed by a regency support at The Alton House Hotel.

For more information visit janeaustenregencyweek.co.uk.