One of the country’s most highly-regarded actresses provided one of many highlights at this year’s Lavenham Literary festival, which took place over the weekend.

Sheila Hancock, who is also a best-selling non-fiction author, discussed her debut novel, Miss Carter’s War, with fellow author Kate Mosse at a session yesterday morning. Around 200 people packed Lavenham Village Hall to listen to the pair in conversation.

Since the 1950s, Hancock’s career has spanned film, television, theatre and radio and earned her an OBE and a CBE for services to drama.

Her novel, set in 1948, focuses on young Marguerite Carter who lost her parents in the Second World War, but survived herself, and worked for the Special Operations Executive behind enemy lines.

The three day Lavenham festival featured a number of stand-out guests, including Toby Buchan, grandson of The Thirty-Nine Steps author John.