Kite flyers from all over the world are heading to Wirral for one of the most colourful and spectacular events on the UK events calendar.

New Brighton’s breezy ‘Dips’ – unique green spaces on the promenade overlooking the Mersey Estuary – will be home to the ‘Kites Over the Mersey’ Wirral International Kite Festival on Saturday and Sunday, June 11 and 12.

Because of the near perfect flying conditions that The Dip’ provide, the event attracts some of the best flyers from the UK, along with top International kite flyers from the Far East, Australia and Europe.

Last year more than 20,000 people attended the event.

Visitors in 2010 included the BBC’s ‘Countryfile’ programme which interviewed Robert Brassington of Tasmania, who is returning this year with his selection of exquisite and skilfully made kites.

Home grown UK talent includes Graham Lockwood, one of only a few men in the world who can fly three stunt kites at the same time in sequence to music.

In all, 40 kite flyers are attending the festival.

Admission is free, and there is a free shuttle