POET Tony Walsh found global fame when the world's cameras turned on Manchester after the arena terror attack.

It's a tragic irony that is not lost on a writer who has been plying his literary trade for the past seven years.

"I have very mixed emotions. It's a responsibility," he says. "I'm doing all I can to use the poem to make as much money for charity as I can."

He wrote This Is The Place back in 2013. The day after the blast he was working in a school when he received a phone call from the charity Forever Manchester to ask him to read the poem aloud at the vigil for the 22 victims of bomber Salman Abedi.

Instantly he was caught in the "white heat" of a global media storm as the Albert Square recital was shown live around the world.

Tony said: "When I came offstage I was trending fourth in the world on Twitter. My social media went into meltdown for days. The whole world's press were after me for days and nights.

"It was very stressful. As an artist it's all about connection and you want to connect with people. A few months later it's connected very broadly and very deeply, which is a privilege but a real pressure and to have come out of something so terrible is a real responsibility."

The poem, a love song to the people of Manchester, captured the mood of poignance and defiance that swept the city back in May.

It has been transformed into a painting and a dance mix and now the Manchester design community has come together to produce a coffee table hardback book. They include Peter Savile who designed Joy Division New Order record sleeves.

All the contributors have worked for free and is intended to raise a six-figure sum for Love Manchester, Andy Burnham's homeless charity and Forever Manchester.

"That's all I can do," Tony said, "And then get on with doing what I was doing before."

He admits that "work has picked up" while he has been in the spotlight, because it's not easy making a living as a full-time poet.

Known for his height, his professional moniker is Longfella and his work takes him into schools, colleges, prisons and charities.

"You have to be flexible, you have to work hard. I write commercially and with companies. I do my own gigs, I do my own books. That adds up to a living."

He says he enjoys writing to commission.

"I speak to the people and try to get inside what they're all about and try to communicate their passions. I do it for companies and for charities and for causes and events."

Tony, now 52, started writing poetry when he was six years old.

"My nana used to write them up in a pad. Then was I was seven or eight I would write them up myself. His first poem was about an aeroplane, then poems followed about Christmas, snow, and autumn leaves."

When he reached 16, Tony stopped writing and didn't pick up his pen until he was 39 . . . when his children were small and the muse struck him once more.

Then he began to read his poems out loud at open mic nights.

"It changed my life," he said. "It's a shame the system didn't see it in me when I was young and draw it out of me."

He encouraged youngsters to write: "It's a great way to express yourself and figure out what you think. You don't need anyone's permission to write."

He paid tribute to Bolton writing collective Write Out Loud.

"They used to help me a lot.

"Hovis Presley was big on the scene when I used to go. They hold regular pub poetry sessions. Go on writeoutloud.net. It's very friendly, very welcoming."

He has lived in Prestwich for 16 years.

"There's a real arts scene emerging in Prestwich now. Different people run poetry club nights in working men's clubs. I love Prestwich, it's a great place to live."