New Brighton rocked (From Wirral Globe)

New Brighton rocked

12:52pm Monday 18th June 2012 in News By Geoff Barnes

NEW Brighton was shaken with a series of ear-splitting explosions as the resort came under attack from cutlass-wielding pirates at the week-end.

Cannons roared and battle cries rang out as the Battle of the Last Chance Lagoon unfolded on the marine lake.

Later more than 100 "unfortunate volunteers" were forced to walk the dreaded "plank."

The maritime mayhem – enthusiastically supported by hundreds of pirates-for-the-day from across Merseyside – was all part of a Father's Day of fun and festivities organised for the International Mersey Pirate Muster.

Appropriately-dressed lads and dads strutted along the promenade, adding splashes of colour to the sunny occasion.

Michael Kinsella from Wallasey won an award for the best corsair costume.

Event organiser Cathy Roberts pledged that the event had become a permanent fixture on the New Brighton calendar. She said: "New Brighton is pirate town. We really want to keep the pirate theme going and during the summer every Sunday will be fun day in New Brighton and we will be involved."

She added: "We were delighted with the response from the public – everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. At one time you couldn't move on the prom."

Cathy said the organisers had high hopes that last year's £180,000 brought into the local economy by the event would be exceeded.