NATIONAL Poetry Day will be celebrated in Barnard Castle with a visit by David Platstone, supported by musician Abi Harrison, and by an invitation to local people to produce a poem.

The performance will take place in the upstairs room at the Witham on Thursday, October 9, at 8pm.

Platstone lives and works in Teesdale, but performs all over the North and occasionally beyond. He has published several volumes of poetry and more recently a CD of music and poetry.

His poems are observations of everyday life, give or take a bit of poetic licence, sometimes philosophical, humorous, sad, deeply meaningful and though provoking, and always delivered in his dramatic style.

Harrison has only been singing and playing the guitar for three years, though she has played piano from an early age. She plays the music of various people, but says her main inspiration has been Eva Cassidy.

Tickets cost £4, concessions £2, which includes a glass of wine or juice, and are available from the Witham office between 10am and noon weekdays or by calling 01833 631107.

The Witham is also holding a competition to write a poem entitled The Witham Hall. There are three age groups - 11 years and under, 12-19 and adult - with the winner of each receiving a £10 book token. Winners will be asked to read their work at the October 9 event.

Poems can be of any length and should have the writer's name, address, age and telephone number written on the back before being handed in to the Witham office before next Friday.

The judge is local authoress Pat McAughey, who writes under the name of Patricia Fawcett and runs a creative writing class at the Witham.

* Barker & Stonehouse stores, including the one in Darlington, are marking National Poetry Day by installing "creative walls" where customers and staff can give rein to their poetry talents by focusing on emotions stimulated by the home environment. There will also be an opportunity to win copies of The Nation's Favourite Poems edited by Gryff Rhys Jones.