POEMS about war, family and the environment will feature in an eagerly-awaited festival appearance by former Poet Laureate Andrew Motion.

Andrew is appearing at this year’s Goosfest arts and music festival, which runs from October 1 to 12.

He will read from his collections The Customs House and The Cinder Path, and answer questions from his audience about his writing and the role of the Poet Laureate.

The Customs House is in three sections, and opens with a sequence of war poems, Laurels and Donkeys, which draws on soldiers’ experiences from The First and Second World Wars, through to the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Cinder Path comprises lyrics, love poems and elegies, and was shortlisted for the Ted Hughes Award for New Work in Poetry.

Andrew will be reading from his collections at Goostrey Village Hall on Tuesday, October 7, and this will be his first appearance at Goosfest.

“I am looking forward to coming to the festival,” said Andrew.

“I will be reading poems about war, my family and environmental matters, the three main areas I am interested in and am most well known for.

“I will be trying to create a sufficiently varied shape to the playlist for people to be interested.”

Andrew said his audience tended to be a mixture of people who knew his poetry and others who knew his name but had not read much of his work.

“It is always very good to meet people who are new to my work, and I very much enjoy the question and answer time at the end of the evening,” he added.

“It’s always nice for writers to meet their readers.”

Asked how he keeps his readings fresh for himself and his audience, he said: “I try to write good poems which don’t wear out!”

The evening includes a book signing, and doors open at 7pm, with Andrew due to read his poetry from 7.30pm.

For tickets for festival events visit goosfest.com or ring the box office on 01477 535367.