THE first Ripon Poetry Festival is inviting local writers of all ages to submit poems about the town and the surrounding area.

The festival will take place from October 13-15 with the competition forming part of the event. There are three age groups: under 11, 11-16 and over 16. Closing date for entries is September 1.

Winners will share hundreds of pounds worth of books, and the poems will be collected in a book to be published during the festival.

Best selling children's writer Michael Rose is among the line-up to read at the festival. Other events include a showing of Paul Mills' film poem about Ripon, You Should Have Seen Us, workshops for children and adults, a guided Wilfred Own walk and a performance by Bob Beagrie of Leasungspell at the Leper Hospital.

For more information, contact Andy Croft on 01756 or info@smokestack-books.co.uk.