Performing poet Mark Ward could have been forgiven for feeling as mad as a hatter when he lost his distinctive topper.

The antique titfer has been part of his act for the best part of a decade.

But when he travelled to London for the launch of his latest book, he left it on the coach back to Yorkshire.

"I tried contacting the lost property department but there was no sign of it," said Mark, of The Fold, Haworth.

Mark was given the top hat, which he thinks dated back to the 1820s, as a present and started to wear it as part of his stage act several years ago. At one stage he wore full 19th century costume before reverting to the hat and a waistcoat.

Mark added: "The battered old top hat became a bit of a trademark. You're different on stage to when you're not performing so it seemed a good way of making a division between the two."

Mark has performed all over the world, including Malaysia, Australia and Alaska and is now having to get used to a new hat.

Mark lost the old one on the way back from the launch of his new book Down At Beans Caf, featuring poems written between 1987 and 1997. The collection is published by his own Thornton-based company, Mulberry Books.

Down At Beans Caf is published in paperback by Mulberry Books at £7.99. For more information, write to Mulberry at PO Box 208, Keighley, BD22 8YP.

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