POETS from across the country attended the launch of the Live from Worktown Festival at the Octagon Theatre.

The event, organised by Dave Morgan and Scott Devon, was also a platform to showcase an anthology entitled Words from Worktown, which features work submitted by local poets.

Local actress Ruth Morley, who has appeared in a number of productions, including Drowning on Dry Land at Bolton Little Theatre, performed three readings in front of a crowd of 45.

Guest speakers included the Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Martin Donaghy, and Julie Spencer, head of library services at Bolton Council.

It was one of a number of events across the borough this week to highlight talent from the North West. Mr Devon said: “Bolton has poetic history going back to the 19th century, back to Walt Whitman who is one of the grandfathers of poetry.

“We are proud of Bolton’s artistic history. It’s not just an ex-mining town.

“It has local talent that can stand against the best in the world.

“The poems in the anthology have been compiled from a number of people from the North West so it felt right that a local actress performed them, and Ruth did a wonderful job.”

“For many poets, this is the first time that they have been published,” said Mr Devon.

Mr Morgan added: “It was a fantastic atmosphere.”

To view a list of events, visit livefromworktown.org