A MAJOR poetry festival, better heritage trails and improvements to the city's museum are on the way in a bid to promote Gloucester as a tourist destination.

A new report has been produced which aims to turn Gloucester into a "world class historic destination" rivalling the likes of Oxford, Cambridge and Bath.

The document, which has been backed by the city council's Conservative leadership, has revealed talks are underway to stage an Arts and Poetry Festival in August.

The event is likely to run over several days, will take a historic theme and will take place some time before the bank holiday weekend.

An independent group is in discussion with the council and venues across the city, such as the museum, Guildhall and Blackfriars, are likely to be used to host events.

The report also says bosses will work with Gloucester Civic Trust over a new heritage trail, and aims to make a bid for external grant funding to create it, by December.

The council also said it "anticipates" that the current raft of first floor displays at Gloucester City Museum will be refurbished this year, although costing has yet to be done.

The Conservative leadership has agreed to back the report, and will leave it to officers to develop it.

It follows the creation of the Tall Ships Festival, which launched in 2007 after calls for Gloucester to make more of its heritage.

Every other year it is credited with bringing 80,000 people into the city.

Leader Councillor Paul James (Con, Longlevens), said: "The city's heritage is one of its greatest assets.

"We have not always made the most of it but we are starting to do so now."

Dates and venues for the poetry festival will be revealed in the spring.