POETS from as far afield as India will visit Blackburn tonight for a unique tri-lingual poetry evening.

Around 200 people are expected to attend the first event of its kind at Blackburn Museum, which will hear poetry read in English, Gujarati and Urdu.

Poets from Birmingham, Bradford, Batley, Preston, Bolton and India will be attending the Making an Issue of Literacy event organised by the Lifelong Learning Team, in partnership with the museum. It is aimed at pensioners from Blackburn with Darwen and particularly older Asian men.

Although plenty of poetry events are held throughout the year, organisers say this is the first time they have staged a multi-cultural event.

A Lifelong Learning spokesman said: "This celebration of literacy is the first of it's kind.

"Poets from across the country will render poems in Gujarati, Urdu and English drawing comparisons in the poetry and celebrating the diversity of the cultures."

Visitors will also be given the chance to view displays in the museum.

There are also plans for the library to offer the community books on poetry in all three languages.

Dr Ghanchi, ex-vice chancellor of the University of Gujarat and currently an adviser to the Indian government on education, will be the chief guest for the occasion.

The evening will be between 6pm and 9pm and is free.