Vera author meets her Danish fans

THE popularity of Vera Stanhope – in books and TV – extends far beyond the North East, which is why a group of Danish fans travelled to the region.

They weren’t here for the shopping but were excited to meet Ann Cleeves, the creator of Vera, and see the places where her stories are set – both on the page and on the screen.

The fans, 18 of them met, Ann at the Lit & Phil, at the bottom end of Newcastle’s Westgate Road.

They hung on the Whitley Bay author’s every word and seemed a little in awe of their surroundings.

The Lit & Phil, after all, has featured in several episodes of Vera.

Ann told her audience: “People ask me about the name Vera. I say it’s obviously about truth, veracity, but the name just popped into my head.”