A NEW mural depicting a pirate ship being attacked by another boat will soon take the place of a picture of a great white shark on the canal basin in Droitwich.

Plans to create a new mural were submitted to Wychavon District Council  and the Canal & River Trust by the Droitwich Arts Network in February.

If given the go ahead the new mural will be put up to the rear of Malvern Tyres Ltd in Hampton Road, Droitwich.

Peter Hawkins, from the Droitwich Arts Network, is organising the mural, which will be painted on April 6 at Vines Park in Droitwich if proposals are successful.

He said: “We are hoping to get the murals in place in time for St Richard’s Festival on May 4.

“The mural will be a pirate ship being attacked by another boat. There is a link to Droitwich history with Lord Bellomont formerly Richard Coote an MP for Droitwich 1688 to 1695, who was responsible for the capture of Captain William Kidd.

"Captain Kidd was accused of piracy and arrested in Boston by the order of Lord Bellomont then Governor of New York and other territories in the New World.

"He was returned to England for trial and buried the main bulk of his treasure on a tropical island, the whereabouts were not revealed before he was convicted and hanged. People are still searching for his treasure today."

Mr Hawkins hopes schools from Droitwich can be involved in painting the flags, which could be attached to masts as part of the mural or be used in an avenue to flags in the park. 

A public exhibition is currently on display in Droitwich Library and will close on Friday. 

For more information or to get involved contact Mr Hawkins on dan@droitwichspa.com or 07766 415094.