BOOK-loving residents and visitors to Grassington are getting set for a real red-letter day with the opening of a new independent bookshop in the village.

The Stripey Badger book store is next to its sister company the Stripey Badger Coffee Shop and Kitchen in the Square and opens its doors officially on Saturday.

And performing the opening is one of the Dales’s most popular best-selling authors - detective fiction writer Julia Chapman. Julia, of Settle, who writes the ‘Dales Detective’ series, will open the Stripey Badger at 2pm and will sign copies of her books, ‘Date with Death’, ‘Date with Malice,’ and ‘Date with Mystery’ until 4pm. She said: “As an author, but more importantly as a reader, it’s so exciting to know there’s a new bookshop in the Yorkshire Dales. The Stripey Badger will be the perfect addition to Grassington and the area as a whole. I can’t wait to visit.”

On Friday, the opening weekend starts at 11am, when customers can browse to the sounds of the Grassington’s Gentle Jazz duo.

The Stripey Badger is co-owned by mother and son team Linda Furniss and James Firth. Linda said that there was growing support for independent bookshops across the country as book-buyers returned to high street shops and moved away from on-line retailers.

She said: “Nothing beats browsing through the shelves of an independent bookshop and the advice, support and brilliant service you’ll receive with a friendly smile will all be part of our day. We’re hopefully opening on the crest of a wave and do hope that visitors and residents alike will enjoy our two shops.”

The bookshop will offer a book ordering and book search facility – and when an ordered book is collected there will be a free cup of coffee on offer from The Stripey Badger Coffee Shop and Kitchen next door - whose owner, Jacqueline Beecroft, is busy building up a steady stream of regular customers for her home-baked cakes and all-day breakfasts, Linda said. The Stripey Badger is also planning to run regular science clubs and after-school reading clubs, and they would welcome other suggestions from the community.