A busy arts festival kicks off in north Norfolk this weekend.

North Norfolk News: Lynn Truss. Picture by Andrew CrowleyLynn Truss. Picture by Andrew Crowley (Image: Andrew Crowley)

The sixth Cromer and Sheringham Arts Festival (COAST) launches tomorrow - with a programme of 40 events ranging art, craft and literature to music, African dance, photography and storytelling.

Among the highlights is a visit by top author and broadcaster Lynne Truss in the Cromer Pier Pavilion Theatre on Wednesday, October 28, at 7.30pm.

She is well known for her best-selling books: Eats, Shoots and Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation - which has sold more than three million copies worldwide - and Talk to the Hand: The Utter Bloody Rudeness of the World Today.

Other festival events include:

?Songs of Sea and Shore: Show performance of a community singing project on October 28 at 7.30pm at The Lighthouse. Tickets £6 on the door.

?Drawn to the Coast: Glass art exhibition at Belfry Arts Centre, Cromer Road, Overstrand (NR270NT), from October 20 until October 31. Visit www.belfryarts.co.uk.

?Cromer History Day: Friends of Cromer Museum group is organising a history day on October 24 at Cromer Community Centre, Garden Street, from 10am.

?Katrina Mountfort talk: How to become a published author: Tips to budding authors from the writer who published her first novel last year. October 26 at The Sea Marge Hotel in Overstrand at 3pm. Tickets £8. Visit www.casaf.co.uk to book.

?Library storytelling: Usifu Jalloh is bringing his unique storytelling for families in Mundesley and North Walsham on October 27 at 1pm and 4pm; and Cromer and Sheringham on October 28 at 11am and 3pm respectively.

?Singing the Postman: A poignant musical comedy drama is being performed at The Atrium on Spenser Avenue, North Walsham, on October 28 at 8pm. Tickets £8/£5. Call 01692 218060 or visit www.artsnorthnorfolk.org.

?Batch Gueye band - six piece band showcasing the music and dance of Senegal. October 30 , Cliftonville Hotel, Cromer at 8pm. Tickets £10 from www.casaf.co.uk

The North Norfolk's Got Talent Competition will culminate in a live final at Cromer Pier on October 29. As part of the prize, one of the judges, music and record producer David Mackay has offered to help the winner (if a singer or a band) make connections in the industry.

The launch event is a free evening featuring acoustic jazz guitarist Paul Hill at the White Horse public house in Overstrand from 6.30pm.

Events run until Saturday October 31.

? For more information on the full festival programme visit www.casaf.co.uk. Programmes are in shops and tourist information centres across Sheringham and Cromer.