A celebrity concert will be held at a church near Petersfield to mark the 250th birthday of East Hampshire’s most famous daughter and author.

There’s a treat on Sunday (October 26) as St Mary’s Church in Buriton will be the venue, dear reader, for The Innocent Diversion: Music in Jane Austen’s Life and Works.

A programme of music by Austen’s contemporaries will be the icing on the birthday cake with works by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Kalkbrenner, Chopin and more.

Acclaimed pianist Tom Cooper will be tickling the ivories for the milestone concert with the music starting at 2.30pm.

Light refreshments will be served following the concert, which is part of the Music at St Mary’s programme. Free entry with retiring collection.