The long-running Epsom Book Fair launched today, aiming to build on its incredible fundraising record amid high interest from specialist book dealers.

The event is held at Epsom Methodist Church (February 21-February 23) and has been running for 18 years so far, raising thousands of pounds for regional, national and international causes.

Last year the event raised £37,688 for its chosen charities.

The large crowds who queued throughout the day to get in suggested that this record total might yet be breached again.

Speaking to the Surrey Comet on the first day of the fair, Organiser Jacqui Raggett said that the event started on a small scale but had since snowballed into a fair which can literally raise tens of thousands of pounds for good causes out of the modest Epsom church.

Ms Raggett said: "We've got more books than ever, and everything under the sun.

"It's a church event, it started to help raise funds for a church redevelopment project and when that was fully funded we turned it into a fundraiser for a group of very worthwhile charities."

These include Epsom Food Bank, the Action for Children Methodist charity and Hope For Malawi, which provides libraries and resources for schools in Malawi.

Last year's lofty fundraising total of over £37,000 set a high bar, but the organisers are confident their finely tuned operation can at least match the figure again.

Ms Raggett added that the event had been made such a success down the years thanks to hundreds of volunteers from the community.

Ms Raggett said: "It's not really about books at all, it's about people because the range of volunteers and the skills they can bring is really quite something, we're nearly 200 volunteers in total.

"There's nothing else like us in all of England and Wales. The dealers come and find treasures we've found before they've spotted them and we think we do quite a good job on sourcing. We source very carefully...we sold a 2nd edition Animal Farm (George Orwell, 1945) yesterday for £100. Over the years we have sold a series of books worth up to £500 and over..."

The book fair is running from today (Feburary 21) through Saturday (Feburary 23) at Epsom Methodist Church.

For more info head to www.facebook.com/EpsomBookFair/ or follow the event live on Twitter: @EpsomBookFair