THE latest Riverside Community Big Local book events in Grays take place this Friday (12 August) and Monday (15 August).

Friday's venue is Grays Town Park and Monday is at the Elm Road Open Space both start at 11am and are free to attend.

Both will feature the best-selling author and winner of the People's Book Prize for Children's Literature in 2021, Venessa Taylor.

Venessa is the author behind the junior reader series, All Cultures United: Baller Boys. Aimed at encouraging youngsters to find pleasure in reading her football themed stories are written with young readers in mind.

Venessa will be reading from her books, working with youngsters to create their own stories and signing her books,