Wenlock Poetry Festival in £17,000 Arts Council grant

A top Shropshire poetry festival is set for a bright future after organisers secured thousands of pounds worth of funding.

Wenlock Poetry Festival is only in its second year but has received £17,000 from the Arts Council England to spend over the next two years.

The 2011 event will take place in the town from April 29 to May 1.

Anna Dreda, of Wenlock Books - the festival's founder and artistic director - said: "It's fantastic news.

"Without this support our programme would have been cut back and we would not have been able to do so much to reach young people - the next generation of readers and poets.

"Although we knew we were planning a first class event, and we have worked hard to match public funding with private money, nevertheless at a time of such pressure we are very grateful to the Arts Council.

"We have a lot of top quality poets lined up for the event and even had to turn some away this year, which in itself is both sad and a compliment to the popularity of the festival."

Poets attending the show and giving readings include Andrew Motion, Simon Armitage, John Hegley, The Ian Macmillan Orchestra, Jackie Kay and patron and Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, who has dedicated her poem "Bees" to the event.

Tickets for the event can be booked online at the festival website www.wenlockpoetryfestival.org or for more details, call 01952 727877.