Ledbury Poetry Festival director Dr Charles Bennett is scheduled to launch this year's event under the Market House this evening (Friday), at 6.30pm.

Afterwards, invited guests will enjoy a reception at The Armadillo, the new steel and glass building at the end of Tinsmith's Alley.

The first event of this year's festival will be A Cartoon History of Poetry and Ledbury, featuring Ian McMillan and Tony Husband, in the Community Hall, Lawnside Road, at 7.30pm. The festival runs until July 10.