AN imaginative North Wirral arts and culture trail has been given the green light.

The permanent trail,  that will include sculptures, murals - and a few surprises! – will extend from Meols Station to Hoylake Station with a loop along the promenade.

The first stages of the project have been funded through a £6,000 grant awarded by Wirral Council from the Liverpool 08 Legacy Fund. Local artists have been commissioned to create art installations - including stone carvings, poetry engravings and a Maypole.

The trail will incorporate existing artwork including David Annand’s “Knot,” Paul Bearman's 'Hoylake Lifeboatman,'  Micheline Robinson’s shell mural at Melrose Hall, Sue Sharples sculpture at the Holiday Inn and the mosaic and wall painting in the Parade Gardens.

New features are aimed at further highlighting  the culture and history of the area.

Ex Scaffold member John Gorman, who brought the project together, said:

"This is a unique opportunity to enhance and promote Hoylake and Meols.

"Over the next few weeks, suitable sites for the features will be identified. For the trail to be effective, we need the support of the community."

Following in the footsteps of the very successful Wirral Open Studio Tour, local artists will be involved in events linked to the trail and it will be a central feature of Wirral Festival of Firsts, which Hoylake will be hosting from July  6 to 14.