A BOOK of poetry by Winchester Cathedral's former poet-in-residence has been published to help raise cash for the 800-year-old building.

Stella Davis' book, St Swithun's Day, came out of her experience of working in the cathedral environment and features 29 poems with titles ranging from Rude Normans to Cathedral Repairs 1673.

It's the second book of poetry Mrs Davis has written, following her 2001 works based on the theme of Southampton's waterfront and she hopes profits from the sale of the book will help to finance the cathedral.

Stella said: "The book grew out of the residency and was funded by both the Arts Council and money from the cathedral itself.

"Part of the brief of the residency was to produce a book of poems, so all the time I was going around working with the youngsters. I was also looking to construct poems about the everyday environment of the cathedral."

What attracted her to the figure of St Swithun himself was the myths surrounding his want to experience the elements, even after death with his now famous proclamation that he wanted to feel the rain from heaven fall on his grave.

Asked what it meant to her to be the resident poet, Stella, a married mother-of-two, said: "It was wonderful. To be part of cathedral life was a thrilling experience and I received such a warm welcome. It was an enormous privilege to be involved and to get to know everyone there."

Stella's book is on sale in the Cathedral shop.