HELEN Rebanks paid a visit to Carlisle's Tithe Barn talking all things farming and family life at the weekend. 

The author paid a visit to the venue thought to be built in 1480 in line with her new book being released, The Farmer's Wife: My Life In Days, a manifesto for small-scale farming and family life.

The event came about from a collaboration between Borderlines Festival and festival booksellers, Bookends Carlisle to orchestrate events in place of the literature festival that was 'taking a break' this year - Borderlines Carlisle Book Festival. 

In a post on social media, Carlisle's Bookends said: "We at Bookends along with @borderlinescarlisle had a really lovely time yesterday afternoon at The Tithe Barn in Carlisle with @theshepherdswife Helen Rebanks and Helen Millican from BBC Radio Cumbria.

"There was talk of all things farming and family life and followed up with homemade cakes, biscuits, teas and coffees," they said. 

Signed copies of Helen's book are available via Bookends at BooksCumbria.com

The event followed a week after Grace Dent celebrated her 50th birthday in line with a replacement event of the literature festival. 

Later this month, hometown hero Helen Skelton will also be promoting her new memoir at Carlisle's Old Fire Station.