A POET from Palestine who was booked to appear at Ledbury Poetry Festival on Sunday has been refused entry to the UK.

Basem Nabres had been booked to appear alongside Israeli poet Tal Nitzan.

But the UK Border Agency confirmed Nabres visa application has been refused.

A UKBA spokesman said: “Each application is considered on its individual merits and in accordance with the immigration rules.

"If a person is unable to satisfy the entry clearance officer that they qualify they will be refused.”

However, he was unable to specify why Nabres had failed to qualify.

Festival spokesman Simon Steven confirmed Sunday’s event will be going ahead, with recordings of Nabres’s poems.

Last year, three poets from Morocco and Indonesia were refused permits.

The festival is being launched today (Friday) by legendary American Beat poet Michael McClure, who will be appearing at 6pm in the community hall.

Later tonight, there is a festival first with the premiere of Differences by Siobhan Davies Dance, a work specially commissioned for this year’s festival, featuring a unique mix of poetry and performance.

The festival also sees the launch of Orchard Days by Charles Bennett, at Dragon Orchard in Putley on Wednesday, July 7.

And another local poet, Dr David Walter of Yarkhill, has signed copies of his book of funny and astringent poems Vitriolic Verse is on sale at Three Counties Bookshop, Ledbury, during the festival.