It might sound like a niche concern, but the founder of a poetry society says the group reaches out beyond Judaism and verse, and is always looking for new members.

Judy Karbritz set up the Jewish Poetry Society five years ago and each month around 20 members gather at Glebe Hall, in Glebe Road, Stanmore

At the meetings on the first Thursday of every month, people read poems or prose they have written on a specific theme over the previous month.

The group regularly publishes a newsletter with it a selection of poems from the recent months.

Mrs Karbritz said: "We first started the group just as a way for people to express themselves. At first we only had a few people but it has just grown and grown.

"Though we are called the Jewish Poetry Society we are open to anyone and everyone of any age and any religion.

"We’d always welcome new people and it would be nice to have younger writers join us.

"I think for a lot of members writing and reading their own poetry is positive release for them and is a great way to express themselves.

“Some people say writing a book is a good way to get your feelings out but that takes a lot of time. Writing a few lines of poetry is easy and helps get things out."