A team of 26 poets will be celebrating Manchester’s first marathon in 10 years by staging a three-hour poetry marathon on behalf of Freedom from Torture on Wednesday 2 May at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Chorlton Mill, Manchester. Poets already confirmed include Ben Mellor (pictured), Segun Lee-French, Martin de Mello, Cathy Bolton, Col Bashir, Shamshad Khan, Elmi Ali, and Keisha Thompson.

The event, starting at 6.30pm, is expected to last the time a (good!) runner would complete a marathon. There will be two “water station” intervals on the way with musical entertainment. The event will also be an opportunity to thank the 22 runners who have chosen to run the Manchester marathon for Freedom from Torture on 29 April, with a suggested donation of £5 on the door.