A POETRY society held its first ever reading last night.

The Waltham Forest Poetry Society Stanza, which started in June last year, invited the public to Walthamstow Library in the High Street, to listen to some of the borough's best poets.

Pascale Petit, 56, from Walthamstow, gave an illustrated reading from her current collection What The Water Gave Me, which is based on the life and work of artist Frida Kahlo.

Jacqueline Gabbitas, 39, of Hawker Place, Walthamstow, and Meryl Pugh, 41, of Woodville Road, Leytonstone, also read poems.

The event was so successful, society manager Paul McGrane said they will be doing it again some time soon.

He said: “It was fantastic. So many more people showed up than we expected.

“We didn't know if we were going to five or 50. There were 80 altogether – we had to find more seats from around the library.

“We would love to do it again at the library. It's a perfect venue.”

For more information about the society, call Paul McGrane on 020 7420 9881.