FORGET wandering lonely as a cloud if you are after poetic inspiration -- the pub has become the place to go!

The Albion watering hole, which has staged concerts, stand-up comedians and even theatre shows, is now hosting something different a little different.

Regulars at Whalley Road pub in Clayton-le-Moors have been treated to their first evening of entertainment from poetry-reading budding bards.

According to some locals, it's proof the venue is now Hyndburn's cultural hotspot.

Landlord John Burke hit upon on the idea when he was trying to think up something new to keep the punters entertained.

Wanting something a bit more novel than karaoke, John hit upon the idea of inviting rythmic wordsmiths into his pub.

He said: "There are a lot of people who write poetry around here but they don't often get a chance to perform it in front of other people.

"So I thought I would ask them in and let them read off their works to people in my pub." John's pub is well-known among East Lancashire's arts circle.

Last year it played host to a theatre company which travels along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in a barge, and it's also a popular venue for up-and-coming musicians.

One of the rooms above the pub is even used as an art studio for a pop art designer.

John hopes regulars will be spurred on by the success of his 'poems and pints' night, hopefully turning his venue into a hotbed inspiration awash with creative hyperactivity.

He added: "I hope people see it as something different and are encouraged by it. I want to do a couple of open-floor sessions, a bit like in comedy clubs, where people can stand up and read their work out to each other."

At the first event was local Hyndburn councillor Tim O'Kane. He said: "It's something completely different, which is good. The pub has become the cultural hotspot of the area. It is great because people are travelling a long way to enjoy something different, and they are opening their minds to new things.

"That is all credit to the landlord for putting Clayton on the cultural map."

Local poet John Johnson, of Whalley Road, is also positive about the idea -- and wants someone to read his poems out in the pub for him!

His works include prose about Clayton-le-Moors .

He said: "Anything which raises the profile of poetry is good and this is a good place to do it. If people want to read my poetry out, they can do. I would be more than happy for that to happen."