Top writers, including the creator of the popular TV series Inspector Morse, have been attracted to a town's first ever writers' conference later this month.

Organised by writer Amanda Wilkins, a theatre critic for The Argus, it will be held at the Harbourside Hotel, Fort Road, Newhaven, from Friday, November 25, until Sunday, November 27.

Crime writer Simon Brett, columnist Simon Fanshawe, and Colin Dexter, the creator of Inspector Morse, will all be speaking during the three-day conference.

Amanda Wilkins will be launching her latest book, Eighty Days at Sea, at the evening session on Saturday.

It describes what it is really like to travel round the world without ever spending a night on land.

She said: "The conference has taken a lot of organising and it is quite a coup to attract speakers of such quality to Newhaven."

Further details of the conference, which has already attracted bookings from all over Britain, can be obtained from Amanda on 07832 265459.

Friday November 4 2005