Fans of Ulysses by James Joyce took part in Letchworth's first Bloomsday celebration - paying homage to the novel's protagonist Leopold Bloom.

The novel, which was published in 1922, takes place in Dublin across one day - June 16, 1904 - and follows Leopold Bloom as he goes about his daily work and life.

Over the weekend, Letchworth Arts and Leisure Group's (LALG) Ulysses Reading Group held several events to celebrate Bloomsday and Joyce's work.

A Bloomsday stroller admires a 1904 version of the CometA Bloomsday stroller admires a 1904 version of the Comet (Image: LALG)

North Herts Council vice-chair Cllr Tina Bhartwas opened the weekend with a talk at Letchworth Library.

Events included exhibitions, poetry readings, a talk by a Ulysses expert from the University of East Anglia a screening of a film of Joyce's short story The Dead, and panel discussions.

The main event was a Bloomsday morning stroll on Sunday, June 16.

Participants were invited to wear clothing from the early 1900s, and strolled around Letchworth with stops at venues to hear readings from Ulysses, recreating some of the novel's famous scenes along the way.

The novel's opening Martello Tower scene was recreated at the Broadway Gallery, the purchase of a 'cake of lemony soap' was recreated at Boots, the buying of a breakfast kidney at Morrisons and confusion over the Ascot Gold Cup in a newspaper scene at Sainsbury's Local - complete with a mock-up 1904 edition of the Comet.

Bloomsday strollers outside David's BookshopBloomsday strollers outside David's Bookshop (Image: LALG)

More scenes were recreated at the Broadway Hotel, concluding with a lunch scene at David's Café.

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Hugh Pollock, leader of the Ulysses Reading Group, said: "They created in effect, across several Letchworth venues, a temporary art installation that was rooted to June 16, 1904 Dublin, but held in place by everyday Letchworth life swirling around it as everyone else carried on their daily life, working, shopping, eating, talking with friends and simply living their own unique June 16th day."

Despite the novel's reputation as a difficult read, the reading group views Ulysses as a "funny, entertaining and insightful" novel.

Hugh added: "Joyce the writer leaves a long-lasting impression. He is unique, and truly a reader's writer. Anyone who has actually read the novel will tell you so!"