A READING group aimed at promoting poetry to adults and encouraging them back into their local libraries is being launched tomorrow at 2pm at Middlesbrough's Berwick Hills Library.

There will be a poetry reading from Darlington writer Marilyn Longstaff and the launch will include an open-mike spot, giving the public an opportunity to perform their favourite poem or one of their own compositions.

The reading group will begin on Wednesday, May 21 and will run for six months until October, culminating with a celebration on National Poetry Day.

Reading North, funded by Arts Council England, North East and the Library Authorities, has teamed up with Independent Northern Publishers (INP) to deliver the poetry project across five North-East local authorities: Gateshead, Sunderland, South Tyneside, Middlesbrough, and Hartlepool. The five reading groups will read six INP published books, all written by North-East writers who will lead the discussions about their work. The six poets are: Maureen Almond, Kevin Cadwallender, Cynthia Fuller, Kath Kenny, Marilyn Longstaff, and Peter Mortimer.

Launch dates for the Reading North and INP poetry reading groups also include the South Tyneside group at South Shields Central Library on Friday, at 2pm and the Hartlepool group at Foggy Furze Library on the same day at 2pm. The Gateshead and Sunderland groups have already been launched.

For details call Berwick Hills Library on (01642) 246947 or Crista Ermiya of INP on 07956 402408.