American President Bill Clinton's former mistress Monica Lewinsky is to visit Lakeside shopping centre to promote her explosive new book.

The 25-year-old - world famous for her much-publicised affair with the US leader - will sign copies of Monica's Story at County Bookshop on March 13 from 11.30am.

A spokeswoman for the store said she was "very excited" about the visit.

She added: "Monica will be signing books and we are very much looking forward to seeing her."

The stopover is one of just 19 book shops all over the country that Monica will tour between Monday and March 24.

Last night Channel 4 aired the first European interview with the former presidential intern.

Millions were glued to the screen as she told of her ordeal leading up to Mr Clinton's impeachment. Her book hit the bookshops this morning.

Monica will visit areas including Oxford Street and Harrods as well as Salisbury, Sheffield and Glasgow on her book tour.

And on March 24 she can be seen at WHSmith in Kent's new Bluewater shopping centre - Lakeside's main rival.

Thousands of people are expected to flock to see Monica as she completes the tour. A spokeswoman for Essex police said: "In a situation like this we wouldn't provide security for her, but we will monitor the situation if there are crowds of people and deal with it accordingly."

Monica is now a household name after beginning an affair with Bill Clinton in the summer of 1995, shortly after joining the White House as an unpaid intern.

At first President Clinton denied having an "improper relationship" with her but was forced to come clean during his impeachment trial.

He narrowly avoided being thrown out of power as Monica revealed to a grand jury how they had indulged in numerous sexual encounters.

Her biography reveals the details of their affair and her ordeal during the impeachment trail. She also tells how she had an abortion after becoming pregnant by another lover while romancing President Clinton.

Richard Belt, general manager at Lakeside, said it was not his place to comment on the visit.

Monica Lewinsky

(Right) Bill and Hillary Clinton Factfile

Monica's authorised biography has been written by Andrew Morton - who famously revealed Princess Diana's secrets to the world

Monica is expected to use the money generated by the book to pay off an estimated £1.3 million legal bill

Borders bookshop in Oxford Street claimed it was the first place in the UK to sell a copy of Monica's book, at one minute past midnight

Channel Four last night broadcast the first European interview with her after paying £400,000

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.