PUNK poet and musician Al Hutchins gave youngsters in Cheltenham a crash course in creative writing this week.

Al, whose band The Courtesy Group counted the late Radio 1 DJ John Peel among their fans, helped young people at Bramah House, an assessment unit for 16 to 25-years-olds who are either homeless or facing a housing crisis. ​

The session is one of many funded by Cheltenham Borough Council's Promoting Cheltenham fund and was designed to get people talking about experiences through poetry.

Organised by Cheltenham Poetry Festival, they will include poetry writing, slam performance skills and craft based workshops, all taught by poets, rappers and musicians.

Director of the poetry festival, Anna Saunders, said: "This is a festival for the entire community.

"We ...

PUPILS at a Cheltenham school have been visited by a rhyming 'alien'.

Youngsters at Rowanfield School turned their hand at writing in verse as part of a poetry day.

The event, organised alongside the town's annual poetry festival, included an appearance by acclaimed 'slam' poet Richard Dreadlock Alien.

And he challenged the year six children to have a go at performing their own poems.

The poet, whose real name is Richard Grant, was invited by the Alstone Lane school, along with fellow poets Avril Staple and Sarah Snell-Pym, to share his skills with the pupils.

Poetry festival organiser, Anna Saunders, said: "Rowanfield School approached the festival, and asked if we could suggest some people who could come in and work with their pupils.

"They were very keen to encourage creativity."

A Hip hop star will be leading the charge at the second annual Cheltenham Poetry Festival.

Organisers say the event, which was launched in the town last year, will be bigger and better when it hits venues across Cheltenham in April.

A new performer for this year's line-up is musician Dizraeli and people behind the festival say they are opening it up to a more diverse audience.

Director Anna Saunders said: "Last year was such a success, with audiences at some events reaching more than 300 people, that we have decided to add an extra day for 2012. Our programme is even bigger and better for 2012 – we have 95 poets and performers taking to the stage in venues all over the town.

"Cheltenham residents will be able to enjoy free readings, theatre and stand-up performances, as well as children's creative writing and craft workshops. There literally is something for everyone."

The festival ...