IF YOU have a life of rhyme, you could do verse than joining Blackpool's new poetry society.

Purely Poetry is being set up by South Shore man Kevin Baskin -- a former hotel worker and now aspiring full-time poet.

The 33-year-old dad-of-one said: "Other writers' clubs don't concentrate just on the poetry, but on short stories and stuff. There weren't any other poetry clubs around, so I thought 'why not start one?'

"I know there are definitely poets out there because looking at the books that I have been in I have noticed about 20 other people in Blackpool, St Annes and Cleveleys."

The new group will be free to join, and will initially be a 'house group' to save on room hire. And all poets will be welcomed, whatever their experience, Kevin said.

His own poetry started about six years ago, after losing his nan to cancer. One day he was walking past a bus stop where they used to wait together.

"It was a few months after she passed away and obviously I was very upset. I just got a voice and a verse right there -- it just came into my mind."

But his verses 'lay dormant' until two years ago when his wife bought him a typewriter for Christmas. Since then, he has been short listed in competitions and had work published.

"Now I'm sending off selections of poetry to different publishers and I'm hoping that it's going to produce some results. Children's poetry is my ambition," he said.

"I have done hotel reception work and stuff like that, but I have never had the satisfaction in the work - I have always felt something was missing."

He hopes the new Blackpool group will inspire others to get involved in writing.

"Basically, this is going to be a poetry group with a really friendly, encouraging atmosphere," he added.

To contact Kevin please send letters here to us at; The Citizen, 13/13a Clifton Street, Blackpool, FY1 1JD, and we'll pass them on for you!