RECORDINGS of the poet F W Harvey reciting five of his poems have been made accessible to the public via the Poetry Archive website - placing them alongside others from such luminaries as T S Eliot and W H Auden.

Born in Hartpury and raised in Minsterworth, the recordings of the poet date from 1938, and were recorded by the BBC at their regional headquarters in Whiteladies Road in Bristol.

F W 'Will' Harvey, who was decorated before being captured during the First World War, became a leading local solicitor, but also became a regular broadcaster for the BBC between the two world wars, scripting and presenting programmes about Gloucestershire - and particularly the Forest of Dean.

He wrote a series of radio plays about country and farming life, Gunters Farm, which was the first time that regional accents had been heard in a BBC drama, and which some claim may have formed the basis for the format of the longest running drama series in the world, The Archers. The series ran for two years, from 1935 - 6, and he was later commissioned to create another series, My Friends The Foresters, which again introduced local dialect to the airwaves.

The recordings of his poetry recitals were discovered by F W Harvey's biographer, Anthony Boden, lodged in the National Sound Archive. He is said to have been astonished at the quality of the sound recordings, and the lyricism of the recital.

The five poems that are available on the website are: Out Of The Mouth Of Babes, November, Elvers, Warning, and Willum Accounts For The Price Of Lamprey.

Roger Deeks, Chair of the F W Harvey Society said: "We are delighted to have helped make these poems publicly available. He was a humorous and generous man, and his love of the Forest and Gloucestershire is evident in these poems.

"They express the tragedy of war and loss, but are mostly about humour and laughter."

He added: "They will be an important aid to teachers and students who wish to learn more about literature and Gloucestershire."

The poet has enjoyed a great increase in popularity over recent years, with his poem Ducks being included in the Poetry By Heart schools competition.

• Two forthcoming events will further enhance the poets popularity: Forest Brass and Gloucester Cathedral Youth Choir will be presenting celebration of his life at a convert on Friday June 27 at Gloucester Cathedral.

This is followed by a production by the Everyman Theatre of 'Will Harvey's War', which is a dramatisation of his semi-autobiographical book, which will be staged from July 30. This will form the official launch of Gloucestershire Remembers World War One, a wide ranging programme of work and events.