'Drunk' poet given lottery handout

A little-known comedian who writes poetry about his drunken antics has been awarded a lottery grant.

Karl Beer has been given £2,500 to work with younsgters in South Wales to produce a CD and book of poetry. But the handout has enraged some crticis, because Beer's own work concentrates on his party lifestyle.

The 27-year-old admitted: "Some of the stuff on the CD and in the book is going to be quite shocking."

He added: "There's a lot of controversy about the causes which get lottery money, and my work is about going out and getting wrecked."

But the news has not gone down well with some of Beer's Port Talbot neighbours, who have been seeking lottery cash for a new sports pavilion.

Councillor Horace Lewis told the South Wales Evening Post: "If his work is just encouraging drinking then it's not good. Personally, I would like to see money going in other directions."

The Millennium Commission awarded him the cash, some of which will be used to run poetry workshops, after seeing Beer's stand-up show.

A spokeswoman said: "He was given the money because his project was to work with excluded groups in the community, including young offenders. Because he is a poet, his idea was to help them express their feelings in a more positive form."

Published: 15 Apr 2004