A celebration of performance poetry will highlight the life of a Ledbury poet who died last weekend, following an 18-month battle against lung cancer.

Pete Brown's death came just weeks after his wedding in Winchcombe to fellow poet Brenda Read, who is said to be "devastated" by her loss.

Mr Brown, well known for his renditions in Ledbury pubs, was the driving force behind the "Gorilla Poetry" event at the Market Theatre, part of the Ledbury Poetry Festival. He worked until the end on making "the all-day jungle session" on July 2 a success.

Friend Barry Scott, from Ledbury, said: "It was something he really wanted to do and he wanted it to go ahead."

Mr Scott was one of the guests at Mr Brown's wedding reception, which was held at the White Lion, Winchcombe, on June 2.

Having spent the majority of his life in Ledbury, Mr Brown had moved in recent years to Winchcombe, but continued to play an active role in the Ledbury Poetry Festival.

Festival organiser Blanca Rey-Surman said: "He was hoping to make it to the Gorilla Poetry event. It's a very sad story but they are determined to go ahead."

The reins for the Gorilla Poetry event have now been take up by another of Mr Brown's friends, Don Barnard, who said his poems would feature.