DRINKERS could be soon propping up the bar with a good book at pubs taking part in a celebration of crime thriller writing.

Free book groups called Tales From The Darkside are being held over the next two months at North Yorkshire pubs as part of this year's Theakston's Old Peculier Harrogate Crime Writing Festival.

Anne Cleeves, the festival reader in residence, along with Margaret Murphy, will lead many of the groups as members of the Murder Squad - a collective of leading crime authors who promote the genre.

People will be able to talk about and vote for the Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award.

The winner of the award, in association with bookstore Ottakar's, will be announced on July 21 -the opening night of the festival, which is part of the Harrogate International Festival.

Guests at the festival will be best-selling crime authors Ruth Rendell and Michael Connelly.

Simon Theakston, executive director of T & R Theakston's, which is sponsoring the writing festival, said: "Tales from the Darkside is a wonderful way to encourage a real sense of community sprit, with the public house being at the heart of many small rural villages."

For details on local book reading groups, to vote for your favourite novel or for festival details, go to www.harrogate-festival. org.uk/crime

The groups will be held at the following pubs:

* Tuesday: The Crown Inn, Askrigg, 6.30pm.

* Wednesday: The White Bear, Wellgarth, Masham, 11am.

* Wednesday: The Black Swan, market place, Middleham, 6.30pm.

* Thursday: The Cover Bridge Inn, East Witton, 11am.

* Thursday: The Countryman's Inn, Hunton, Bedale, 7pm.

* Monday, May 16: The Crown Hotel, Hawes, 7pm.

* Tuesday, May 17: The Wellington Inn, Darley, Harrogate, 11am.

*Tuesday, June 7: Buck Inn, Malham, 4pm.

* Monday, June 20: The Crown Hotel, Hawes, 7pm.

* Tuesday June 28: Buck Inn, Malham, 4pm.