SPEND ‘An Afternoon With Jane Austen’ at the Willis Museum this weekend.

Local tour guide Phil Howe will talk about Jane’s early life in the area before introducing a screening of the 2007 film Becoming Jane starring Anne Hathaway, James McAvoy, Maggie Smith and Julie Walters.

The event is part of the 2015 Basingstoke Festival and recognises Jane Austen’s strong links with Basingstoke.

Phil said: “There is no need to be a literary expert, just interested in one of the world’s most famous novelists, and her connections with places and landscapes that are still here today”.

Basingstoke’s MP Maria Miller added: “Jane Austen is probably Basingstoke’s most famous daughter and this afternoon will be a wonderful celebration of her life and will help raise people’s awareness of her strong connections with the area and the influence life here had on her work”.

This event, which takes place on Sunday, July 5 from 2.30pm, has been organised by Destination Basingstoke in partnership with the Hampshire Cultural Trust and Hidden Britain Tours.

Tickets are £18 per person which includes afternoon tea and the film.

Book online at destinationbasingstoke.co.uk.