A flavour of this year’s World Curry Festival in Bradford has been given to tempt the taste buds.

Yorkshire poet Ian McMillan read a poem he has penned for the occasion at the official launch today in Forster Bistro, in City Park.

One of the themes for this year’s event is Literature, and along with the poem called ‘Curry World’ organisers are launching a writing competition called ‘Poempadoms’ which is inviting young people to write a creative poem or short story about food.

Organisers are hoping for schools to get involved. Mr McMillan said: “I met founder of the festival Zulfi Karim at a dinner only last week and he asked me if I would write a poem for the festival, but said he needed it quickly, and I liked that, I liked the urgency.”

Chef consultant Stephanie Moon, of Rudding Park, Harrogate, and Mumtaz chain founder Mumtaz Khan spoke of their excitement.

Representatives from Bradford College, and Prism’s project The City Farm, were at the event.

Students from The City Farm will be donating their home-grown herbs and vegetables to the June festival.

Visit worldcurryfestival.com to contact organisers for more information.