BISHOP'S Castle Arts annual arts festival, which runs from Wednesday and runs until Sunday, February 23, has a wealth of entertainment on offer, including talks on poetry and literature, including one from Paul Costello, Utterly Undiscovered, based on his book about running a Shropshire B&B for 17 years, and another, Girls on Top, given by Pat Townsend on the three national poets, Carol Ann Duffy, Gillian Clarke and Liz Lochhead.

Food and drink also features, with a free tour of The Three Tuns Brewery, a talk and demonstration on spices every day at The Chai Shop in the High Street. Children are well catered for, with the festival planned to coincide with half-term, giving children the chance to take part in craft and music activities, among them a drop-in drumming sessions given by local samba band, Bang On. There's also a Kids' Space scrap sculpture workshop on Friday, February 21 and an open mic acoustic session for young musicians at the Six Bells Church.

Other workshops are available for all ages, but suitable for children accompanied by an adult - chhose from block printing, watercolour painting, corn dolly making demonstrations and drop-in knitting sessions.

Or learn about Roman Art and Architecture in a talk given by David Preshous, enjoy an illustrated talk by Jock Wright about Rubens and Abstract Painting, and learn about the Bishops Castle Arts Society at an open meeting on Thursday, February 20. An exhibition by the society's members takes place from Thursday to Sunday in The Poppy House, and other exhibitions include Mike Johnson's rock star portraits at The Crown and Anchor Vaults, and the Castle Artists and Marches Book Art Group at the Public Hal.

For full details of the festival programme, visit bishopscastleartsfestival.co.uk or pick up a programme from 18 Market Square during the festival.

Most events are free although donations to Arts Festival funds will be welcomed.