One of the country's leading literary figures has accused library services and arts festival organisers of neglecting poetry.

Jackie Wills, shortlisted for the prestigious TS Eliot prize for her 1995 collection Powder Tower, criticised the new £14 million central library in Brighton for not opening in the evening.

And she berated the organisers of the Brighton Festival for "undermining culture" by largely ignoring poetry on the literary programme.

Ms Wills, 50, who lives in Brighton with her partner, the South African musician Risenga Makondo, and their two children, said: "In London libraries are open well into the night.

"The whole thing leaves me speechless.

"I think it epitomises Brighton - there's no substance. It's all superficially fantastic but where are the books and the opening hours?"

Ms Wills began to write poetry in her 30s. She followed Powder Tower, her first collection, with The Party in 2000.

Her last collection in 2003, Fever Tree, won her a place in the list of top ten UK female poets produced by literary magazine Mslexia.

She has received writing awards from the Arts Council, Society of Authors and South East Arts.

Ms Wills spoke of her outrage upon seeing just one poetry event in this year's Brighton Festival.

She said it undermined the festival's boast of promoting culture.

The programme included 11 events about the writings of journalists, three on politicians, 13 on novels, 12 on biographies and two on comedy.

But just one poet - Carol Ann Duffy - was given a slot on stage.

Ms Wills said: "What it said to me was that literature just isn't an important part of the Brighton Festival. It's not a big money-spinner which is what it's all about now."

Ms Wills runs poetry workshops with children for West Sussex County Council but Brighton's Jubilee Library and major booksellers in the city do not stock any of her collections.

A council spokeswoman said: "The new Jubilee Library is open in the evenings on three days a week, until 7pm on Mondays and Tuesdays and until 8pm on Thursdays."

Liam Browne, books and debate programmer for Brighton Festival, said: "Poets have included the American Poet Laureate Billy Collins, Sharon Olds, Robin Robertson, Carol Ann Duffy, Simon Armitage, Lavinia Greenlaw and Jamie McKendrick.

"For next year's 40th anniversary Festival, I'm working on programming a special poetry commission."