DOZENS of people crammed into a Woodford secondary school last night to hear author, TV personality and local resident Meera Syal talk about her life and work.

The event, at Woodford County High, was organised by the Village Bookshop for its customers as part of Independent Booksellers Week.

After the event, Ms Syal told the Guardian: "I really wanted to take part this evening because I love the Village Bookshop, and it's a real focal point for the community.

"There's a huge difference with independent shops and the big chains, which I do shop at too, because they can really care for individual readers."

Ms Syal, who lives in the Firs Estate in South Woodford, joked she would have to "move out" of the area before she wrote about it in a book.

But she did add: "My next book is set between India and England, so it's a possibility."

Alison Lawrence, owner and manager of the bookshop, on Woodford Green High Road, said: "It's been a really fantastic evening. For us we're all about the customers and we adapt our shop to suit their needs, and it's great they support us too."

During the talk, Ms Syal spoke about her two novels, including her debut work Anita and Me, which has sold more than a million copies worldwide and picked up numerous awards in the process.

Ms Syal also talked about her "amazing" ten weeks filming for BBC hospital drama Holby City, in performances which will be broadcast later this summer.

She said: "My character plays a heart surgeon in the show and in preparation for it I got to go and watch some open heart surgery.

"It was amazing, such a privilege. They actually stop the heart for as long as half an hour. When they finish they start it again. It was unbelievable.

"I just looked at the surgeon and thought, you're sexy," she joked.

But there was also some serious discussion on the issue of self harm, especially among the country's female Asian population.

Ms Syal's recent BBC programme, Self Harm And Meera, sparked discussion among the audience over how to address the problem.

"I think it is a matter of education," said Ms Syal. "But there is some fantastic work going on up and down the country but there needs to be more awareness of the problem."

A total of £826 was raised from the evening's ticket sales for Haven House children's hospice in Woodford Green.