WORK on a new tourist attraction celebrating New Brighton's history and links with a mythology is now underway.

A tantalising glimpse of a fibreglass tail is all we can give you as a sneak preview of one the six statues which will form part of New Brighton Mermaid Trail.

A sculpture of the statue, created by Wallasey artist Barry Canning- Eaton, has been signed off this week for casting.

They will be then delivered to the schools and groups who won a competition to decorate them, ready for the official unveiling in May.

Once the artistic touches have been added, the models will be placed around the resort, celebrating its links with the mythical 'Black Rock Mermaid', said to have appeared to a local sailor in New Brighton in the 18th century.

The schools and arts-based groups across Wirral will decorate the six identical sculptures are:

  • The Mosslands School, Wallasey
  • Wirral Hospitals' School, Claughton
  • St George's Primary School, Wallasey 
  • St Mary's Catholic College, Wallasey
  • Ebb & Flow, a community interest company working with communities, including New Brighton.

The Mermaid Tail project was created by New Brighton Coastal Community Team (NBCCT) - a partnership of local voluntary and community/residents' groups, local traders and Wirral Council.

The attraction is funded by the Burbo Bank Extension Community Fund, a grant scheme set up by DONG Energy to benefit voluntary groups and organisations located near to the coastline where it is carrying out the extension to the offshore wind farm.

Cllr Tony Jones, Wirral's pledge champion and chair of NBCCT said: "It will be difficult keeping these fantastic designs a secret and we’re all looking forward to seeing the final designs in May."

According to legend, the mermaid was also spotted near Leasowe Castle, along the stretch of sands called Mockbeggar Wharf and on boulders now known as the Mermaid Stones.

The legend took hold when a Liverpool sailor, John Robinson, met her when she came on board his ship after a storm killed the other members of his crew.

By being the first to speak, and by taking her comb and girdle, he had the power to ask a wish of her.

In return for his promise that he would see her the following Friday, she gave him a compass that would allow him to return to shore: he agreed, and she kept her word.

When the time came for him to meet her again she was the one who spoke first, thus gaining power over him: she bewitched him with her singing, took back the compass and put her ring on his finger, saying she would soon see him once again. 

When he returned to his home this time, he fell ill and died five days later.