Talented poets will gather to recite their work in Blackpool next week to mark a special anniversary.

Members of the town’s Live Poets group will be performing a collection of original work at the resort’s Central Library, on Monday, to celebrate its fifth anniversary.

Several of the group’s local writers and poets will attend and their poetry will include a variety of subjects including the festive season.

The resort has long had an affinity with poetry and boasts its own poet residence, currently John Siddique, from Rochdale, to capture in verse the town’s unique northern soul.

Mr Siddique, who will not be attending the locally-centred Live Poets event, is known for reading poetry from the back of a Blackpool tram at the town’s 2007 Wordpool event, an annual event that provides a platform for various writers.

Councillor Tony Williams, cabinet member for culture and communities at Blackpool Council, said: “Performance poetry can be very emotive to watch and the Live Poets group gives people the chance to get involved and ask the poets questions about their work.

“It’s also a good opportunity for unpublished poets to get their poetry heard.”

Since it began Live Poets has provided a platform for local artistic writers to discuss and share their own work at meetings held on the first Monday of every month.

Victoria Copeland, leader and mentor of the group, said: “I am delighted with the dedication and progress group members have made over the past five years and providing outlets for our many talents which have given joy to many.

“I look forward to welcoming more members to our meetings, hopefully encouraging more latent talent in our community.”

The Live Poets session will run from 1pm to 2.30pm, on Monday, November 3, and is open to all.