NORTH-EAST poets encouraged would-be writers to put pen to paper when they visited a Darlington library.

Acclaimed poet Anna Woodford hosted a workshop at Darlington’s Crown Street Library while Mark Robinson read from his latest collection How I Learned to Sing, which explores the industrial and cultural transformation of northern England from the Miners’ Strike to the advent of the Big Society.

The pair were at the library as part of New Writing North’s Read Regional Campaign.

This year’s campaign, which seeks to connect authors from the north of England with local readers, will see around 80 events held in libraries and bookshops around the region.

Other events include an appearance by authors Susan Elliot Wright and Sarah Stovell at Stockton Central Library on Saturday February 8.

Ms Wright will also join novelist Gavin Extence at Darlington’s Crown Street Library on Wednesday March 12 while author Rebecca Muddiman will visit Cockerton Library’s evening reading group on Tuesday March 18. For more information, visit readregional.com.