SWINDON FESTIVAL OF LITERATURE: THE Swindon Festival of Literature took on a therapeutic air with the arrival of Survivors' Poetry.

London-based poet Roy Birch led readings from four writers at the Community Crossroads (the old Railway Museum) yesterday.

Survivors' Poetry is a national charity with 20 groups throughout the country promoting poetry amongst those who have suffered some form of mental distress.

And Mr Birch, an outreach worker for the organisation, is keen to set up shop in Swindon.

He said: "We've got groups up and down the country and we would love to set one up here in Swindon.

"This is the first time we have been involved in the literature festival here and it's got a really impressive programme."

Mr Birch, who started working with Survivor's Poetry after his friends set it up in 1991, read a few of his own poems.

One of the shorter ones read: "Walking in the rain, carrying my umbrella, rolled, for fear it might get wet."

As well as humorous numbers there were a few more thought provoking and the crowd who gathered were treated to a wide range to material.

The poems were read in between drinks of tea, as Mr Birch said: "You know you're performing in England when you get tea on stage."

Simon Jenner, founder of Waterloo Press, entertained the crowd with some of his work, as did John O'Donahue and a musician called Lucia.

Organiser Matt Holland summed up the feeling when he said: "Life is a tricky business. It's good sometimes and tricky others and through reading and writing we can get through it."

Gareth Bethell