Hecklers, listeners and poets are invited to a poetry festival on Saturday as part of the city's Raise Your Banners event.

Anyone with an opinion and who wants to have a say on issues of the day can go along and join in or just take it all in, said one of the organisers Rob Martin.

"It's an open mic slot with a difference," he said.

"Anyone is free to comment on the theme or address a poem to the issues it raises.

"Depending on those present, it may be a collage of opinion and poetry, or a Wimbledon of views whacked back and forth. The event is free and listeners, hecklers, socialists and other participants are welcome."

The event is at the New Beehive Inn in Westgate on Saturday starting at 1pm.

At 5.30pm on the same day Adrian Mitchell, Andy Croft and Keith Armstrong will be performing socialist-verse. Tickets are available from Bradford Theatres Booking Office on (01274) 432000 for £7.50 and £5.

The centrepiece of the festival is a concert at St George's Hall on Friday featuring the Oysterband, Chumbawamba, Dick Gaughan, Tracy Curtis and MC Nick Toczek.

Oysterband are on their Meet You There tour promoting their first full studio album and Chumbawamba are taking time off from recording their next CD to perform on the night.

Other Raise Your Banners Festival events are at the Treehouse café on Monday, with food, music and storytelling from 7pm. On Tuesday there is live music at The Castle, Grattan Road, from 7.30pm. Wednesday is drama night with Banner Theatre's They Get Free Mobiles Don't They? at East Ward Labour Club and Brad-ford's Topic Folk Club present Julie Felix on Thursday.

Call (01274) 593585 or visit www.raiseyourbanners.org