A GROUP of local enthusiasts, the Ross Writers are celebrating their tenth anniversary of writing, creativity, support and friendship.

It all began when Jane Ayres put a poster up in the window of the old Globetrotter Café in 2016 in a bid to drum up interest in her hobby she wanted to share, but didn’t expect much interest, but she was wrong.

She discovered that Ross-on-Wye is full of talent. One person turned up the first week, two the next, sharing their ideas over a coffee and gradually the group grew.

Ross Writers expanded and moved to its new home at the Royal Hotel, where they now meet every Thursday morning.

Some of the writers have become published authors, while others write for fun, but all are equally valued for both their work and their critique.

A decade on Jane is still running the Ross Writers group which has just celebrating its tenth anniversary.

And by keeping the membership to ten, it gives everyone enough time to share and discuss their work at a meeting, but many more have come and gone.

Over the ten years there have been successes and disappointments, laughter and tears, and so much support and encouragement.

Between the members they’ve produced fiction, non-fiction, poetry, in almost every genre you can think of.

“Our meetings are never dull,” Jane said, adding: “We may be only a small number of writers but we have met and fallen in love with so many other imaginary people … spies, lovers, Victorian children, aliens, soldiers, animals, fantastical beasts, cave men, scientists, talking trees, ghosts to name but a few.

“We’ve visited far flung places real and imagined; travelled forwards and backwards in time, walked, run, cycled, swum and teleported all around the world, or should I say worlds and what great fun it has been.”