Just what Britain's longest-suffering rail commuters needed...a platform poet

It's been called the UK's worst-performing train company and commuters must have been longing for bosses to do something to relieve the misery of late and overcrowded services.

But instead of promising more carriages or fare cuts, First Great Western has provided a platform poet.

A performer known as the "pinkwigged pocket Venus from Cornwall" has been hired to soothe stress levels and keep passengers entertained as they wait for their trains.

Armed with her copper 'Poetree' and mock tickets inscribed with poetry to give to passengers, Sally Crabtree will sing and recite over the noise of passing trains.

Rail bosses believe that the poetry tour of eight stations starting today will inspire passengers' creativity.

Commuter groups have described the idea as "completely ridiculous".

The announcement comes as a passenger watchdog is threatened with legal action after complaining that First Great Western is the UK's worst-performing train company.

Official figures published in July for the first three months of this year show that only 75 per cent of its long-distance trains ran on time.

London TravelWatch had written to the Government suggesting First Great Western's franchise be terminated. The company has demanded the group withdraw its complaints.

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An Oxford commuter group yesterday urged the company to invest in improving services instead of wasting money on a platform poet.

Susan Westlake, a spokesman for Ox Rail Action, said: "It made me laugh when I heard about this. If trains are delayed when this poet is performing, I don't think passengers will be too impressed."

Miss Crabtree, 42, who has performed at the Edinburgh Festival and has worked in libraries and schools, is due to stage two performances a day at each station.

The mother of two will not be paid but she will receive a free travel card to journey between the stations and her home in Cornwall.

"To be the first official poet on the platform is a dream come true," she said. "I am inspired by the reasons for our rail journeys - the human connections and stories involved. The response is usually very positive. A lot of people are very stressed and I don't interrupt passengers who want to get on their way."

As part of the act, she will set up a copper tree decorated with objects on station platforms, inviting passengers to choose a hanging decoration which will form the inspiration for her poem or song.

The tour of Reading, Oxford, Bath, Bristol Temple Meads, Exeter, Barnstaple, Paignton and Plymouth stations is due to last until Friday.

Elaine Wilde, of First Great Western, said: "This is an exciting project which we think is fun and inspiring."