A PIRATE battle and treasure hunt are among the swashbuckling entertainment taking place on New Brighton this weekend.

The "Mersey Pirate Muster" will be staged outside Fort Perch Rock on Sunday, August 7.

There will also be a chance for visitors to join the Mersey pirate navy and watch a pirate parade.

More than 40,000 people attended the event on Liverpool’s waterfront last year to see ship battles and booming cannons.

Looking ahead to this year's spectacular, co-creator Cathy Roberts told the Globe: “It’s a great free family event and one of the big features of it is that we ask everybody to come dressed as pirates. This area, particularly the coast, was so prolific with pirates, particularly in the 18th Century.

“In particular, there was a gentleman known as Fortunatus Wright, who is a huge hero and was written about in his day.

“He was like the David Beckham of his day. He was a huge adventurer, a great, great ‘Boys Own’ hero, a privateer, and nobody knows about him. We’re going to change that.

“He lived in Wallasey and sailed from Wallasey and we’re going to make sure that he’s recognised.

“We’re also bringing together the legend of the Black Rock Mermaid. That’s one of the oldest sea legends, it’s told all over the world and was first recorded in the 18th Century.

“The legend has always believed to be centered on the Black Rock, which we now know as Perch Rock.”

“We ask all young pirates if they’d care to sign up to our Mersey Pirate navy. Younger visitors will also be to take part in a 16-clue treasure hunt.”

The young pirate recruits will Captain Muster, aka Liverpool-based storyteller Paul Miller.

A range of events is planned throughout the year, to encourage the public to embrace Wirral’s maritime heritage.

The event runs from 11am-5pm. More details are from merseypiratemuster.com (see website in related links section below this article).

If you want to join the Mersey Pirate Navy, email merseypiratemuster@googlemail.com

The programme for Sunday is, as follows:

11am: Pirate Parade from Vale Park bandstand in New Brighton to Floral Pavilion.

11.15am: Pirate display sailing on marine lake.

Midday: Musket displays.

Treasure hunt - all day. Maps available from Arts Vaagen site on prom by marine lake.

1.30pm: BATTLE FOR FORT PERCH ROCK.