National Poetry Day next week is being celebrated in Craven with a virtual reading by a North Yorkshire poet.

People are also being encouraged to get involved on Thursday, October 1 by following their local library on social media and posting their favourite poem.

Andy Croft, who lives in Grewelthorpe, has written more than 80 books – poetry, novels and non-fiction, including Red Letter Days, a history of British political fiction of the 1930s. He also edits Smokestack Books and runs the Ripon Poetry Festival.

During the virtual event organised by North Yorkshire County Council’s library service, Andy will be reading from his new collection of poems The Sailors of Ulm.

National Poetry Day celebrates poetry’s power to bring people together whether in the home or at school, in shopping centres or their park through encouraging everyone to enjoy, discover and share poetry.

County Councillor Greg White, executive member for libraries, said: “Our library service does a brilliant job in promoting poetry which encourages a love of language everybody can enjoy. Andy Croft’s new poetry collection sounds intriguing and I would urge everybody to get involved and enjoy the event in the comfort of their own home.”

The free reading will be held over Zoom at 7pm today. To request the link email claire.thompson@northyorks.gov.uk or call 01609 536623 for more information.