Tickets are to go on sale this April for the hotly anticipated fifth instalment of the annual crime writers' festival - Slaughter in Southwold.

Featuring author talks from Elly Griffiths, M.J. Arlidge, John Nightingale and John Sutherland, Harry Brett, Isabelle Grey, Guy Fraser-Sampson, Ruth Dugdall and Paul Harrison - the popular festival once again boasts an array of literary talent.

The fifth annual Slaughter in Southwold: Southwold Library Crime Writers Festival, organised by the Friends of Southwold Library in association with The Crime Writers Association and part of the Southwold Arts Festival, will be held on Saturday June 17 and Sunday June 18 at Southwold Arts Centre.

Southwold Library manager, Charlotte Clark, said: 'It's amazing to be celebrating the fifth birthday of Slaughter in Southwold. We never envisaged in 2013 when we started with one day in the Scout Hut that in 2017 we would have a whole weekend revelling in meeting established and up and coming crime writers.

'It's great to welcome back Ruth Dugdall, who first came in 2013 and Elly Griffiths, who came to our second festival. This year Slaughter in Southwold has moved to a bigger venue, Southwold Arts Centre, so even more people can come and enjoy the weekend.'

One notable attending author will be M.J. Arlidge – best known for writing for television series Silent Witness and his best selling Helen Grace book series.

Another highlight will be the talk by Isabelle Grey, who has written screenplays for well-loved television series including Wycliffe and Midsomer Murders as well as writing the popular DI Grace Fisher book series.

As well as the opportunity to meet the authors, attendees will also be able to test their crime knowledge in the Fun Crime Quiz Night from 7.30pm on Saturday June 17.

Festival tickets cost £5 per talk, £15 per day or £30 for the weekend - lunches not included.

Lunches with the authors cost £10 and lunch will be provided by Rosie's Home Cooking and Mark's Fish Shop

Tickets can be booked from April 1 at Southwold Library, by calling 01502 722 519 or by visiting the website www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/slaughter .