LEDBURY poet Gary Bills has had his second collection of work published.

His first collection The Echo and the Breath came out with Peterloo Poets in 2001 and a poem from the book was featured as a Saturday Poem in The Guardian newspaper.

Since then, Gary has given readings at the Ledbury Poetry Festival and also at the town's English Festival earlier this year.

In October 2002, he was asked to judge the Poetry on the Lake international poetry festival at Lake Orta, in Italy, and gave a reading on the Sacro Monte, moving from chapel to chapel on spots where St Francis once preached.

His latest book, The Ridiculous Nests of the Heart, has been brought out by bluechrome, the new publishing wing of the computer and Internet company Knowledge Mine Solutions.

Gary, who writes for the Ledbury Reporter, said: "They have been making some waves, in that one of their novels has already been nominated for next year's Booker, so I was glad to sign for them.

"I was also very pleased that the book was illustrated by my wife, who provided the excellent front cover for my first book.

"My new book is divided up into sections, covering different aspects of life, and I would say that the language is lyrical but more contemporary than in their first collection, although my interest in formal metres is still there."

The back cover carries an endorsement from Liverpool poet Brian Patten, who describes Gary as "a genuine new voice that stands out from the crowded world of British poetry".

Copies of The Ridiculous Nests of the Heart are available now from Ledbury Books and Maps in the High Street. Gary said: "There will be a book signing at the shop in the New Year, on the morning of January 17, and I will be very glad to see some friendly faces then, and to sign copies beforehand, of course."