THIS week it has been World Poetry Day.

On March 21, people across celebrate their love of poetry and how the writing form has influenced so many people's lives.

Its purpose is to promote the reading, writing, publishing, and teaching of poetry throughout the world.

The first World Poetry Day was organised by UNESCO in 1999, in their declaration it said the day is 'give fresh recognition and impetus to national, regional, and international poetry movements.'

The day helps school children to understand the importance of poetry and the significance that it has held for thousands of years.

These photos show how poetry has influenced people here in Cumbria. We can see how young people have used it to enhance their learning capabilities.

The pictures show a poetry workshop at Ashfield Junior School, a young girl in Dalston who won a poetry competition, a woman who set up a new poetry group, and some of the winners of a poetry writing contest at Beckstone School.