YORKSHIRE poet Ian McMillan has penned verse on topics as wide-ranging as Domestos, Wolverhampton and George Galloway.

He has now turned his attention to the humble garden shed.

Yesterday saw the first public reading of Sheducation, an ode urging people to make their sheds more secure.

The poem was commissioned as part of a campaign to cut the number of burglaries in outbuildings and garages in Ryedale, North Yorkshire.

It was launched in the gardens at Castle Howard, near Malton, by pupils from nearby Welburn Community Primary School.

They read the poem in front of parents and staff before unwrapping a new shed containing a number of anti-theft devices.

Mr McMillan was not at the launch, but said he was pleased to be able to help out with the campaign.

He said: "Like my poem says, your shed will still be safe and sound if you take this advice and spread it around."

PC Terry Triffitt, from community safety partnership Safer Ryedale - which commissioned the poem - hopes the poem will encourage people to take all the precautions they can against thefts from sheds and garages.

He said: "It is the time of year when everyone gets out their lawnmowers and garden tools, and it's also when the opportunistic burglar turns his talents to stealing these items to sell them on to unsuspecting buyers for ready cash."

Part of the poem:

SHEDUCATION!

Sheducation's what you need!

Sheducation! Yes, indeed!

Lock your gate, secure your doors

Bolt your valuables to the floor

Padlock: Good luck!

No lock: Bad luck!

Fit yourselves a shed alarm

Then your tools won't come to harm!