Poet Peter Steele couldn’t believe his eyes when work he’d submitted to the Gloucester Citizen led to a visit from the police.

Peter has had several poems published in the newspaper and his latest piece, Drifting, told the story of a jilted lover in the depths of depression.

But one enthusiastic reader took the poem to be a cry for help from Peter and immediately phoned the police.

The worried reader told the switchboard he thought Peter might be about to kill himself.

But when a bobby was sent round to Peter’s house, he was bemused – and relieved – to find the poet watching TV with his wife.

Peter said: “I write about anything. This was just an idea that came to me. I just want people to know that I am very much alive.”

Do you have a story for us?
Ring the HoldTheFrontPage newsdesk on
01332 291111 x6022, or to e-mail us now – click here