THERE will be a special reading of a play about tragic first war poet Wilfred Owen in Birkenhead next week to commemorate the 98th anniversary of his death.

The special performance of Bullets and Daffodils will take place at the Wilfred Owen Museum in Argyle Street on Friday, November 4.

The show sets his iconic lines to contemporary music, with emphasis on Wilfred's time in the Wirral and experience at The Somme.

Since its debut at Birkenhead Central Library in 2011, the production has undertaken several runs in London's West End, where the national cast featured Christopher Timothy, Nicholas Ball and Oliver Reed's son Mark.

The musical has also featured local luminaries including Dean Sullivan and Billy Butler.

November's rehearsed reading of the piece will be performed by volunteers of The Wilfred Owen Story, which will be hosting this intimate event.

Born in Oswestry in 1893, Wilfred was brought up in Birkenhead and is recognised as one of the greatest voices of the First World War.

He also has a road named after him, on the former site of Birkenhead Institute, which is now a housing estate.

In 1915, he enlisted in the British Army and was killed, aged 25, on November 4, 1918, during the battle to cross the Sambre-Oise canal at Ors in Northern France.

At the time of his death he was virtually unknown. Only four of his poems were published during his lifetime.

But he had always been determined to be a poet and had experimented with verse from an early age.

Among his 62 poems are 1914, Dulce et decorum est and Anthem For Doomed Youth.

The museum in Argyle Street was the first permanent exhibition in the UK, and has now been established for more than five years.

Manager Janet Holmes said: "People feel a real connection with Owen here in Wirral and we are proud to bring his story to them here at our home on Argyle Street."

Tickets for the performance, which starts at 1pm, are available from 07903 337995