A POET with a passion for football has been passing on his professional skills to youngsters at the junior department of Wisbech Grammar School. Paul Cookson, who is the poet in residence at the National Football Museum in Preston and a fan of the 70s pop

A POET with a passion for football has been passing on his professional skills to youngsters at the junior department of Wisbech Grammar School.

Paul Cookson, who is the poet in residence at the National Football Museum in Preston and a fan of the 70s pop group, Slade, brought along his electric ukulele to help bring his poems to life.

The day kicked off with a performance in the Alan Salmon Hall for all 160 pupils in the junior department and there were then workshop sessions for boys and girls in years three to six.

Teacher Mr Matthew McChlery, who organised the day, said: "Last year the novelist, Kevin Crossley-Holland, visited us for the National Year of Reading.

"That went so well that we decided to invite somebody different this year and so we have gone for a poet.