A huge mural to celebrate Birkenhead's proud history is being painted on the side of a community centre.
The mural, on the outside of the St. James Centre on Laird Street, celebrates the history of north Birkenhead and some of its local heroes, including footballing legend Dixie Dean and the town's first female mayor, Lady Mary Ann Mercer.
Commissioned by Cradle to Career and the North Birkenhead Development Trust the mural, which is being painted by artist Joseph Venning, is due to be completed next week and shows a timeline of people and events in the history of the WIrral town.
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Trust manager for North Birkenhead Development Trust, a charity which runs the St James Centre, and chair of the Cradle to Career Community Working Group, Eve Barrett, says the mural, which is part of the #OurNorthEnd campaign aims to "raise pride" in the local area.
She said: "The North Birkenhead Development Trust is proud to be involved in the #OurNorthEnd campaign to raise pride in the local area, and the Cradle to Career programme of which this is just one part.
"It's really exciting to be part of something that looks at changing the system, as opposed to just dealing with the problems that the system creates for people."
Cradle to Career programme director, Steve Baker said: “North Birkenhead has a proud history and this mural celebrates that."
Cradle to Career was launched earlier this month and is a multi-million-pound initiative which aims to transform the lives of children and young people in North Birkenhead through boosting literacy standards, supporting families and creating opportunities for residents for up to 20 years of age.
The initiative is being funding by charitable donations, totalling almost £3million over three years, which has been pledged by the Steve Morgan Foundation and the SHINE Trust.
Steve Baker said: "The Cradle to Career programme will do more than raise community pride - it’s about bringing together schools, local organisations and public services to collectively improve the future for children and young people.”
For artist Joseph Venning, whose recent work includes commissions for the Liver Building and Manchester United, the beauty of the mural is how it "connects people to the history of the local area."
Joseph said: "Lots of people have sat at the bus stop and told me about how their families have worked at Lees Tapestry or the Docks.
"It’s been an absolute pleasure to hear their stories while I work.
“I’m really proud to be painting a mural that connects people to the history of the local area."
