It will be a sight to stop people in their tracks.

Three poets on a mission to get Bradford talking in verse will be making their way around the city centre, complete with a confession box and urging people to step inside for a spot of private poetry.

It's all part of the "Poetry Confessional", a wacky stunt which is running as part of the Bradford Book Festival this month.

Poets David Gill, Craig Bradley and Gaia Holmes, pictured, will be carrying the confession box - a metal tubular box complete with a curtain - around the city and installing it in Bradford Central Library for a couple of days between May 26 and 31.

David admits it's all a bit crazy but he hopes to discover new poetry which could go on display as part of another literary festival later this year.

"We'll be inviting people to come into the box with their poems and read them to us in private." he said.

"It's a way of testing out new work - they may not be sure how good it is, or they may be very proud of it but just want a private audience for an early reading.

"We're also involved with the Ilkley Literature Festival, which takes place in October, and we'll be inviting people to submit poems, some of which we'll print and laminate then put up around Ilkley to help celebrate the 30th anniversary of the festival.

"They'll be displayed at theatres and other festival venues and shop windows throughout the town."

It is the first time David, Craig and Gaia, who are all published Bradford poets, have embarked on the Poetry Confessional and they're looking forward to the challenge.

"The poet Ian Duhig did it in Bradford a few years ago and it was a great success," said David.

"Craig and I specialise in taking poetry to unusual venues - we once performed at Huddersfield Railway Station during the rush hour which provoked a mixed response!

"And in Ilkley we're doing a poetry pub crawl and a "Bards on the Run" event, going round the streets, reciting poetry at random and asking people to talk about poetry."

The three poets will be holding an open poetry night at Bradford Central Library on Tuesday May 20.

For details about this and the Poetry Confessional ring Paula Truman at the library on (01274) 433915.