THE hunt is on for someone with a passion for verse to potentially become Oxford’s first Poet Laureate.

Oxford City Council is to consider creating the post, the holder of which would be charged with boosting the city’s literary credentials and encouraging schoolchildren to read and write poetry.

The idea mirrors other successful civic schemes in cities such as Birmingham and Liverpool.

If the idea is sanctioned, the successful poet would be responsible for representing the city at literary festivals, visiting schools for readings and hosting public events.

Green city councillor David Williams came up with the idea. Now it is up to his fellow city councillors to decide whether it becomes a reality.

He said: “There are quite a number of local authorities that have a Poet Laureate – Birmingham has just announced its 14th city Poet Laureate.

“This is something that can contribute to the rise and literary profile of the city and it is something that can be done at a very low cost.

“We could nominate a poet annually and that person would do some work on behalf of the council.

“We would not be paying out a lot of money, but we would be getting an awful lot back.

“It would be thrown open to nominations. We would write to poetry groups and organisations and it would be a competitive process because we have got a strong literary tradition.

“This is something we are serious about and I am convinced it can help us.”

Some of the world’s most famous poets and authors – such as Lewis Carroll, JRR Tolkien, John Betjeman and WH Auden – all lived and worked in the city.

Oxford author Philip Pullman, who wrote the His Dark Materials trilogy, said: “I think its an intriguing idea. There is no shortage of poets in Oxford.

“I think it’s a good idea and I wish the council luck.”

However, city council leader Bob Price said: “It’s not something that comes up on the doorsteps as a popular issue.

“I can’t see that it would give the city an awful lot, but it is something the council will have to take a view on.”

The city council is expected to vote on whether to create the post when it next meets early in the New Year.

Last month, the Oxford Mail revealed the city council was considering making a bid to become United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (Unesco’s) first World Book Capital in 2014.

If successful, the city would host a year-long festival of book-related events.

* Could you be Oxford’s first Poet Laureate? Email your poems about Oxford to news@oxfordmail.co.uk