MICHAEL Palin's experience of Ledbury during the town's poetry festival must have been verging on the surreal.

An incident involving ambulances, near the Community Hall where he was to read on Tuesday evening, meant he was briefly directed to the newly-converted St Katherine's Barn, which is shortly to open as a gallery, bar and venue, and which was hosting a Python-themed party in his honour.

Sitting happily in a circle of admirers, who could hardly believe their good fortune, Palin declined a second drink, explaining how he was to soon give a poetry reading in public "and that is not easy".

He was also asked about programmes in the pipeline and explained how he had managed to film in North Korea, for Channel 5. That show will be broadcast in the autumn.

Ushered away to the Community Hall by Poetry Festival officials, Palin took to the stage with musician Peter Moser and Sasha Mitchell, to celebrate the poetry and songs of Sasha's father, Adrian Mitchell.

There the surreal aspect of the evening continued, when one of Palin's readings was interrupted by someone in the audience checking on the outcome of the England game, via a loud mobile phone .

Without a blink, Palin immediately asked the man to share the score, cheered when he heard it was 1-0, and asked if it was the final score.

When told it was not, Palin now asked the by now slightly embarrassed football fan to put up his hand to give the final score, when it was known. Then Palin said it was time to return to poetry "which is far more important".

The show was a huge success, and Sasha Mitchell was a revelation, with a blues voice that reminded one of Janis Joplin at times. Adrian Mitchell's song lyrics in particular were also very well-received. One song, Victor Jara of Chile, about the murder of a folk singer by the Chilean military, was almost too emotional to bear.

Palin, in the main, opted for Mitchell's lighter works, including, of course, an inspired reading of "A Puppy Called Puberty".

A mention must be given for Peter Moser, who knew and performed with Adrian Mitchell and who revealed himself to be an highly accomplished musician.

Peter explained, adding yet another surreal touch, that he'd borrowed an electric piano that very day from Ledbury Primary, when the piano which had been arranged for him proved to be unsuitable.

Fortunately for him and the audience, it was a rather fine electric piano.