Work starts on waterfront museum

The new museum is due to open in 2010

Work on the £65m Museum of Liverpool is getting under way after more than five years of planning.

National Museums Liverpool says the new attraction on Pier Head, will reflect the city's unique geography, 800 year history, people and culture.

The attraction will have four main themes - port city, global city, people's city and creative city.

It is hoped that the facility will attract around 750,000 visitors a year when it opens in 2010.

David Fleming is the director of the project and says he is "delighted" the first turf has now been cut.

'Bigger and better'

The X-shaped museum is sited on Mann Island at Pier Head on the Mersey waterfront.

The Museum of Liverpool is billed as a "bigger and better" version of the Museum of Liverpool Life which closed its doors last year.

The project is part of a larger scheme to modernise the area, which include the new museum, an extension to the Leeds Liverpool Canal, a £120m mixed-use development as well as improvements to areas for public use.

It is thought the scheme will also create more than 800 new jobs.