EXCITING events are planned in Brent throughout the month of April to celebrate Charles Dickens' 200th birthday.

The council is organising a family day and fashion show, talks and an interactive drama performance to mark the writer's special anniversary among a host of other gatherings.

The annual City Reading Challenge has inspired the celebrations, which encourages book fans across the capital to enjoy a set book from their local library. This year's choice is Oliver Twist, the perfect accompaniment to nationwide celebrations for Charles Dickens' 200th birthday.

A packed calendar is planned for the people of Brent.

A special Oliver Twist Family Day and Kids' Fashion Show will be held on April 13 at Willesden Green Library. Brent mayor Aslam Choudry will be judging the fashion show on the day.

Other highlights in April include an interactive drama performance of Oliver Twist at Willesden Library on April 2 from 2pm to 3.15pm.

There will also be a discussion of Oliver Twist in Punjabi and Urdu at the Ealing Road Library on April 5 from 1pm to 2.30pm, and a hip hop Dickens workshop, courtesy of the Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company at the Willesden Green Library Centre from 11am to 1.30pm and 3pm to 5pm.

People will be able to explore Food in the Time of Dickens at the Willesden Green Library Centre from 11am to 2pm, this will be run by food historian Monica Askay.

A council spokesman said: "Authors, poets and historians will also be dropping in on our celebrations to throw new light on Dickens and the Victorian era, including Shrabani Basu, who'll be giving a fascinating talk about her book Victoria and Abdul which tells the story of Queen Victoria's close relationship with a handsome Indian Muslim called Abdul Karim."

For full details of all the events taking place for 'Charles Dickens: a life less ordinary' visit www.brent.gov.uk/dickenscityread or phone 020 8937 3400.