AN academic from Malvern Wells is looking for help to research an exotic religious tradition.

Simon Weightman, 66, is studying the mystical poetry of the Sufist, Jalal al-Din Rumi, whose work is the latest spiritual fad in the United States.

Sufism is a form of Islamic spirituality that originated in Persia in the 13th Century. Among its exponents were the Whirling Dervishes, an order of monks who ex-pressed their spirituality through an unusual dance.

Mr Weightman decided to study the work of Rumi after retiring as head of the Study of Religions at the University of London.

He now wants to find Malvern people interested in Sufism to help him with his research.

"I would like to go through the Mathnawi and show them how to read it," he said.

Mr Weightman can be contacted on 01684 569058.