A WIRRAL family will be painting Birkenhead blue in memory of their daughter during the most colourful event on the Wirral this weekend.

Linda, Colin and Emelia Cook, from Wallasey, will be joined by family and friends at the Claire House Splash Dash - which takes place at Birkenhead Park on Saturday.

The family of Everton fans will be throwing blue paint at participants in memory of their daughter Ellie, who died of a brain tumour in 2011.

The seven-year-old was cared for by the team at Claire House Children's Hospice.

Mum Linda, seven-year-old Emelia and cousins Eric, Jacob and Thomas, were invited to the Everton Two store by the event's official sponsors Liverpool ONE where the store gave Emelia her very own personalised shirt and bag of goodies.

The Claire House Splash Dash is deemed Merseyside’s messiest 3k, with participants pelted with powdered paint at every kilometre point.

The event raises funds for the Bebington hospice, which supports seriously ill children who aren’t expected to reach adulthood, and their families. 

Linda said: “We’re massive Everton fans in the Cook household and blue is of course, our favourite colour. We’d like to say a huge thank you to the store and to Liverpool ONE for arranging the day.

“We’re so excited to be taking part in the Claire House Splash Dash for Ellie. She would have loved the event, particularly throwing the blue paint, so we’ll do it for her. We hope everyone taking part runs through our paint station and remembers our little girl.”

Chris Bliss, estate director at Liverpool ONE said: “Liverpool ONE is delighted the Everton Two store has joined forces with Claire House to make this year’s Splash Dash even more special for the Cook family. We are incredibly proud to once again sponsor this event.”

Places for the Claire House Splash Dash in Birkenhead Park will be available on the day from 11am.

Prices start at £7.50 with all proceeds supporting the work of Claire House Children’s Hospice.