THE new landlady at a Blackburn pub is giving drinkers a bit of poetry with their pint.

Gibraltar Hotel boss Alison St Pierre, 43, has introduced a weekly poetry night. Punters can read their own poems or their favourite verse. More than 50 people attended the first of the Wednesday night sessions.

Alison, a former youth worker who once co-owned a vegetarian restaurant in Colne, has turned an area of the pub into a room where people can relax away from the bar.

She said: "We like to burn aromatherapy oils and have decorated the place with plenty of plants and flowers to add to the chilled-out ambience.

"I'm opening a juice bar and selling organic wine. I will also invite regulars to submit their favourite CDs for our jukebox."

Assisted by daughter Eve, 19, Alison's will next spruce up the beer garden with fountains and wind chimes.