AUTHOR Peggy Harris talked about her life to a packed Jubilee Hall in Chagford during a run-up event to next month's Chagword Literary Festival.

Peggy's book 'Life of a Dartmoor Scrapyard: The Early Years' tells the story of her life growing up near Chagford on the Lettaford scrapyard owned by her father, Sam Harris.

Sam, whose reputation spread far beyond the bounds of Dartmoor, and who is remembered with affection among the community, died in 1988.

This book recalls her struggle to move on into adulthood and to make a life for herself and her daughter Clare in the face of great adversity.

Virginia Richards, Kate Diffey and Jo Diffey read passages from the book.