A FINALIST in the Yorkshire Book of the Year Award will sign copies of her shortlisted novel during a book festival.

Diane Setterfield, whose book, The Thirteenth Tale, won the adult fiction section of the competition, will visit the Yorkshire Building Society, in Richmond Market Place, at 2.30pm on Wednesday. The society has sponsored the awards.

The signing is part of an open day at the branch to celebrate the first writing competition of its kind in Yorkshire.

The overall winner will be announced by Richmond MP William Hague at the Zetland Centre, in the town, today.

Phillip Labbett, the manager of the society's Richmond branch, said: "We are delighted to sponsor the Yorkshire Book of the Year award and are big supporters of anything that highlights the superb writing talents of Yorkshire folk."

The award is part of Richmond Book Festival, which runs from today until September 30 and is linked to the town's annual walking festival.

Details are at www.richmond bookfestival.co