SPECIALLY-commissioned chocolate bars have been produced to celebrate the first Children’s Literature Festival, to be held at Broughton Hall near Skipton in September.

Skipton-based Whitaker’s Chocolates has made 20,000 ‘Billy Bonkers’ bars to promote the event, which are available until the end of September in supermarkets throughout Yorkshire.

The chocolate bars contain 500 ‘Golden Tickets’, printed on the bar, which will allow the winners free access to an event of their choice at the festival.

The competition was devised by Trevor Wilson, the organiser of the festival, which runs from September 27 to September 30.

On the first two days, well-known children’s authors will visit schools across Yorkshire, while on the Saturday and Sunday, authors such as Clare Balding, M G Leonard and G P Taylor will speak at Broughton Hall.

The festival will raise money for the pioneering mental health charity, The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust, which helps train teachers to recognise, and then address, mental health issues in young children such as cyber bullying and peer group pressure. Money raised from the festival will go directly back into schools to enhance the programme.

Trevor Wilson said: “We are delighted that we have been able to attract such a stellar line-up to our festival in our very first year. Other authors include Sir Chris Hoy, Carnegie Medal winner Tanya Landman, poet Tony Walsh who performed at the ‘One Love’ Manchester concert, ‘Young Samurai’ and ‘BodyGuard’ author Chris Bradford, Ross Welford, Robin Stevens and World Slam Poetry champion Harry Baker, to name but a few. The festival fulfils my life-long dream of bringing some of the biggest names in children’s literature to the idyllic setting of Broughton Hall.

“Supermarkets taking part include Booths, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose, the Co-op and Iceland, together with Keelham Farm Shop in Skipton and Tennants Auctioneers in Leyburn.”