AN AUTHOR will be in the Mall this weekend for a book signing of her newest publication "Believe in the Magic of Blackburn Town Centre."

Award winning Blackburn author Christina Gabbitas and Honorary Member of the NSPCC Council will be visiting Blackburns shopping centre for a two-day book signing on Saturday and Sunday (December 5 and 6).

Christina said. “I love writing and this has to be one of my favourite commissions. I grew up in Blackburn, on Blackburn Fire station and revisiting all these locations, The Mall, Blackburn Museum, King Georges Hall, the Market, Library, Cathedral and College has evoked have many happy memories. All the locations I use within the story are places that I visited regularly.”

The story is about two children who are taken back through time, finding a secret passage in the Egyptian room in Blackburn Museum, they follow a rolling gold coin and are on a mission to help bring magic back into the town.

Christina was inspired by her own experiences and the Hart family who invented the Lambeth Rope and bequeathed so much to the town which included a Roman Emperor gold coin collection that boasts the largest collection outside of London.

A poem by Christina depicting the story is being projected onto Blackburn Town Hall until the end of December.

Call the Midwife Actress Jenny Agutter said: "E Nesbit and Lewis Carroll, with Narnia thrown in. A wonderful way to have children discover the relevance of history. We will ‘Believe in Magic’! Well done Christina.”

The story was commissioned by Blackburn BID, The Mall, King Georges Hall, the Library, the Museum and Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Christina will be in The Mall from 10am until 4.30pm on Saturday and Sunday signing the new book and back catalogue that includes the Felicity Fly series, Save Us, Triangular Trev and the Shape idols, Train Journey Through Time.

She will be joined by illustrator Ursula Hurst at her Saturday signing.