AN ARTS initiative is taking verse to the villages - by putting poetry in motion.

A mobile library is about to take to the road with more than its usual complement of books of fact and fiction.

Onboard will also be the van's own poet-in-residence, documenting in rhyme his trip around some of North Yorkshire's remote communities.

Michael Yates, from Wakefield, will travel with the library van around the northern rural villages along the North Yorkshire coast and Esk Valley.

Yorkshire Arts has contributed £2,560 to the initiative, which is part of the Year of the Artist and has been organised by Scarborough Borough Council, in partnership with the county library service.

As well as writing verses Michael will be chatting about his work and offering advice to budding wordsmiths during his meandering journeys between now and September 6.

The chairman of the borough's leisure services committee, Sheila Kettlewell, said yesterday: "This is an exciting project which will bring poetry to the people in a fun and accessible way."

The county's group librarian, David Fay, added: "We are delighted to be part of this innovative project."

Among the villages Michael will visit are Sneaton, Eskdaleside, Ugglebarnby, Goathland, Ruswarp, Glaisdale, Danby, Egton, Hawsker-cum-Stainsacre, Hutton Mulgrave, Mickelby, Barnby, Lythe, Fylingdales and Harwood Dale.

Young poets are being invited to take part in the initiative by entering their own verse, on a topic of their choice, for a poetry competition. There are three age categories - eight and under, nine to 11 years and 12 to 18 years.

Entry forms are available from Whitby, Sleights and the mobile library and must be delivered to any of the local libraries by September 1