A Norfolk poet has taken Edinburgh by storm after receiving a series of good reviews at the prestigious Fringe Festival.

UEA graduate Luke Wright, 29, has received three five- and seven four-star reviews for his set Luke Wright's Cynical Ballads.

Now in his ninth year at the festival, Mr Wright regards himself as a veteran.

He said: 'This year has gone really well. The reviews are quite an achievement for a poet going against the stand-ups. My set consists of eight poems which are stories. The poems are about everyday people, it's social satire.

'I have changed a lot. I was 20 and a student when I first came to Edinburgh and my work is a lot more mature. The festival has changed. It becomes more commercial every year.'

Mr Wright, who lives in Bungay but performs regularly in Norwich and curates the poetry tent at Latitude Festival, has had financial help from the Escalator East To Edinburgh (EE2E) programme, an Arts Council England scheme that supports performers to appear at the Fringe.

He said: 'Without appearing at Edinburgh I wouldn't be where I am today and without EE2E I wouldn't have been able to perform as much as I have. It was a key reason to stay in the east rather than move to London and now I can see myself staying in the east for the rest of my working life.'

While in Edinburgh he was a runner-up in the Amused Moose Comedy Award, in which first prize was �5,000 and a DVD deal.

Last week he left the UK and jetted to Australia to star at the Melbourne Writers' Festival.

Mr Wright said: 'It's exciting, but between Edinburgh and Melbourne, I only have six hours at home. After Melbourne I'm back for a week before going to China for a poetry festival.'

Do you have a story for the Evening News? Call Lucy Wright on 01603 772495 or email lucy.wright@archant.co.uk.