Cartoonist quenches his thirst for verse.

For beer connoisseur Bill Tidy it was a labour of love when he was asked to illustrate a new book of poetry.

Bill, one of Britain's most popular cartoonists, has provided the drawings to illustrate All The World's A Pub, a compilation of poems and limericks on the theme of pubs and drinking.

As a long-serving member of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), he was delighted to help promote the subject when asked by the book's Northumberland publisher Jim Green.

Yesterday Bill, creator of the Lancashire cartoon epic The Fosdyke Saga and CAMRA's Kegbuster strip, was in Morpeth to officially launch the book, a compilation of more than 70 pieces of pub-related verse by different poets.

It is initially being sold exclusively in the Co-op food stores in Morpeth and Tweedmouth before being rolled out to other Co-op stores in the run-up to Father's Day.

In keeping with the pub theme, everyone who buys the book - priced at pounds 6.99 - will receive a free bottle of Co-op strong ale or organic ale.

Yesterday Bill said: "I have a long association with CAMRA and feel really strongly about real ale and traditional pubs so I was delighted when Jim asked me to illustrate this book.

"CAMRA is all about preserving proper beer and saving old pubs and I hope this book will help with that campaign."