LEDBURY Poetry Festival, which starts today, has been giving itself a makeover this year as part of a rebranding drive.

Festival manager Victoria Patch said: “During 2013 the Ledbury Poetry Festival has been working closely with designer David Caines to create an integrated look for all of its publicity materials.

“Taking inspiration from Tilley’s printing the festival has a new logo, cover, pop-up banner, street banner and website – all playing with words just as poetry does.

“Local artists Annelise Appleby and Kate Sheppard have done some wonderful illustrations to create a modern look while not forgetting the festival’s rural roots.”

The festival runs until Sunday, July 14, and some of the star names to appear are former MP Tony Benn, actress Juliet Stevenson, singer Cerys Matthews and beat poet Benjamin Zephaniah.

Meanwhile, runners and verse-lovers are being encouraged to join in a fun run as part of the festival.

Now in its third year, the fringe event Running Order is organised by Ed and Phil, a sports products distributor in which Phillip Howells, from Ledbury, is a partner.

The eight-mile run is being held on Thursday, July 11, along the scenic Poets Path route that starts and finishes at Dymock church.

The route passes through countryside which is rich in poetic history, passing houses and locations associated with the Dymock Poets, who lived in the area around the time of the First World War.

A special poem has been written by Kathy Tytler, who is an experienced runner and an established poet who will be attending the festival.

The poem is written in sonnet form and will be read out before the run, Individual stanzas will be handed out to the different runners.

The poem will then be reassembled according to the order in which the runners finish the course, and the new poem will be read out at the Beauchamp Arms pub .

Anyone wishing to join in should meet at Dymock church for the poem reading at 6.45pm before the run starts at 7pm.