A POPULAR driftwood attraction will be rebuilt after it was destroyed in last week’s storm.

New Brighton’s ‘Black Pearl’ pirate ship was swept away during the tidal surge on Thursday but those behind it says its rebuild will mark what would have been its first birthday.

Built out of items from the beach by local artist Frank Lund and friend Major Mace, The Black Pearl – named after the ship in The Pirates of the Caribbean films – attracted visitors from across the borough and beyond.

It had already undergone one rebuild after being set on fire by vandals in May.

Frank told the Globe: “It was traumatic to see it go down but it was such a wild sea – there was no stopping it.

“But it was a good way for it to go and a much better way than being vandalised.

“We always said that if and when the boat went we would hope that it would sail away which it has, but it was very sad to see it go.”

January 12 would have marked the first birthday of the Black Pearl and it then that Frank hopes to commence the rebuild.

“We don’t know yet if it will be the Black Pearl or if it will be a different ship in the memory of the Black Pearl.

“It is a community project – we had 200 people that helped to rebuild it last time and so it’s up to them what they want us to do.

“It may be that we just leave it as the memory of the Black Pearl because it is very emotional – there have been many tears.

“But we have to have a rebuild because we really need to for the children and for the schools.

“It has become a real part of New Brighton.”

The ship’s demise was captured by RNLI’s Bob Warwick, who fears its two rat inhabitants may have drowned.

He said:  “Pearl has gone on her maiden voyage down the Mersey. God bless her and all who sailed her.”

Frank now proposes to build a skeletal ‘ghost ship’ in time for Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Decorated with fairy lights, the ghost ship will play host to the nativity and will also act as a meeting point for people over the festive period.