Dove Cottage is to play host to its first unique virtual poetry event to mark National Poetry Day - with special guest Simon Armitage.

The Poet Laureate's reading will combine his own, multi-award winning poetry with some of his favourite Wordsworth poems. His performance will be live streamed in the first ever digital event from Dove Cottage as an exclusive public ticketed reading on October 1.

The world-famous home of William and Dorothy Wordsworth in Grasmere recently reopened after an authentic re-interpretation as part of the National Lottery-funded Reimagining Wordsworth project.

Michael McGregor, director of Wordsworth Grasmere, said: “Our annual reading by Simon Armitage is our most popular public event every year. To be presenting it digitally for the first time is incredibly exciting. And it will have a particular resonance this year, marking the Wordsworth’s 250th anniversary and the reopening of Wordsworth Grasmere. So ticket holders will have the chance to see the newly refurbished cottage and hear the poetry of two Poet Laureates.” Tickets are £7 and are available at wordsworth.org.uk