NATIONAL Poetry Day is marked with an appearance by Ruth Padel in the North-East today.

The chairwoman of the Poetry Society will be speaking at an event held as part of the Durham Literature Festival, at the Gala Theatre.

A renowned poet, journalist and author, Ms Padel is a great-great granddaughter of Charles Darwin, and a Fellow of London Zoo.

She has written about poetry and attitudes to poetry and will be discussing her recent trek through ten Asian countries, researching her latest book, Tigers in Red Weather.

It is the first of a series of poetry events taking place as part of the festival programme, to be followed by Tea with Gillian Allnutt and Peter Bennett, also at The Gala Studio, on Sunday, at 4pm, and a presentation of Indian and Afghan poetry, at the concert room, in Durham University's Music Department, on Monday, at 7.30pm.

Later in the programme, Liverpool poet Brian Patten will be giving two presentations at the Gala Theatre, on Friday, October 14, at 1.30pm and 7.30pm, and Barnsley FC's poet in residence Ian McMillan will present his Big Family Show, at St Nicholas Church, in the Market Place, Durham, on Thursday, October 20, at 7.30pm. US writer and poet Jane Hirshfield will appear on the final day of the festival, at the Gala Theatre, on Monday, October 24, at 7pm.

Tonight's evnt with Ruth Padel begins at 7.30pm, with tickets, priced at £6 and £4 for concessions, available from the Gala Theatre box office, on 0191-332 4041.