ONE of Britain's best loved performance poets, Dr John Cooper Clarke, will take part in a fundraiser for next year's Carnival Bentham.

Known as the Bard of Salford, he will perform at Bentham Town Hall tomorrow.

He found fame after his biting, satirical, political and very funny verse, delivered in a unique rapid-fire performance style, resonated with the punk movement.

He toured with all the seminal bands - The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Buzzcocks and Elvis Costello - and began to draw large crowds in his own right.

"This is a fantastic opportunity to see somebody of the stature of Dr Clarke in an intimate and local venue," said gig organiser Iain Henshaw. "It's a night not to be missed."

The show contains frequent strong language and is not suitable for children.

Dr Clarke will be supported by Manchester street poet Mike Garry.

He was a librarian for 15 years and began his poetry career by reading his own poems to the hundreds of young people who attended his Library Homework Centre. They loved what they heard and encouraged him to perform them at live poetry events.

His performances are described as "passionate swirling rhythms of thoughts and emotions converted to monologues of quick fire words".

The gig starts at 7.30pm and tickets cost £19.44 in advance from Cafe Culture, Main Street, Bentham, or £25 on the night. Proceeds will go towards staging next year's carnival, which brings music and entertainment to the streets of Bentham.

For further information, visit the fundraising page at carnivalbentham.co.uk or the Facebook page dr.jcc.bentham