BOLTON'S festival of spoken word, music and performance returns with a line-up of renowned performers next week.

Live From Worktown 2015 will be held at various venues from Friday, April 24, to Saturday, May 30.

The festival will launch with a new commemorative edition of Hovis Presley's Poetic Off Licence at Bolton Socialist Club, Wood Street, on April 24.

Hovis Presley, the bard of Bolton known for his deadpan and Northern humour, died 10 years ago and his collected works will be launched, with readings and discussion, at the festival's opening event.

Dave Morgan, chairman of Live from Worktown, said: "After the success of our first festival in 2014, we were determined to come back with something even more exciting.

"We want to see the borough recognised for its contribution to the arts, not least in spoken word and performance poetry.

"Thanks to Arts Council support, the 2015 festival will bring internationally acclaimed performers to the town while giving local talent a showcase to demonstrate their own writing and performance skills."

The line-up includes performance poet, comedian, musician and songwriter John Hegley, creative workshops, discussions and an open mic evening.

Internationally-acclaimed poet Brian Patten, from Liverpool, will appear at Bolton Central Library on May 21.

An award-winning writer for both children and adults, he rose to prominence as one of three young poets featured in The Penguin Modern Poets: Mersey Sound which has sold more than 500,000 copies.

There will be rap and hip hop as members of Bolton youth arts project Insyt Media take on Manchester's Young Identity, as well as a range of performances in community venues, libraries and schools.

A festival anthology is being compiled with Bolton University lecturer Anne Caldwell as guest editor.

Any Northern writers can submit up to two pieces of work before the deadline on Sunday.

The festival will draw to a close on May 30 with an evening celebrating American radical poet Walt Whitman's work, with contributions via Skype from the Walt Whitman Centre in New York.

The festival is also appealing for a small number of volunteers to help by attending events, greeting audiences, acting as ushers, helping with ticketing and book sales.

To express an interest, e mail Alanna@livefromworktown.org or enquiries@livefromworktown.org by tomorrow.

For details of the anthology, tickets and information, visit livefromworktown.org.