A new virtual museum and gallery is being created to encapsulate the past, present and future of Ormskirk - but the borough council need people’s creativity to bring it to life.

As part of Ormskirk’s Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) programme ‘Once Upon a Town’, locals are being asked to help create ‘The Clock Tower’ - a virtual museum and gallery, created to celebrate Ormskirk’s heritage and tell the tale of West Lancashire’s journey through the pandemic.

The project's being delivered with Positive Placemakers Community Interest Company (CIC) and nearing completion; now the council's asking residents to harness their creative and artistic flair by contributing to three specific areas of the project: ‘The Attic’ which focuses on Ormskirk's past, 'The Tower Room' focusing on the pandemic covering the whole of West Lancashire and ‘The Grand Hall’, an installation looking at Ormskirk 100 years from now.

The website (onceuponatownormskirk.co.uk) is now live and residents are being asked to submit interesting facts, stories and memories about the historic market town. Organisers are also looking for people to contribute with representations of their experience of the pandemic which has affected so many of the Borough's residents over the past 18 months.

Councillor David Evans, cabinet member for planning, said: ''The virtual museum and gallery is a really exciting initiative. It will become a valuable resource for both schools and the community and can help showcase Ormskirk's wonderful heritage.

"This is a great opportunity to really make history come alive and preserve it for future generations. We have all been living through unprecedented times – let's share our stories and memories and present a true picture of how we came together to support each other through the pandemic.”

Sharing memories and creating artworks and poems are just a few of the ways people can get involved. Children may want to design historical costumes for gingerbread men or create diorama that will feature in the exhibition. Hints and tips on how to create a submission are available on the website.

The council know how inventive the people of the Borough can be and they ‘can’t wait’ to showcase their creativity for all to enjoy.

Visitors to Ormskirk can already enjoy the Time Tardis - a town centre installation showcasing historical scenes inspired by Ormskirk’s heritage. It has been created by artist Andrew Shaw and Julie James Turner, working alongside a group of people who were significantly affected by the early lock down.

This project is part of a four-year regeneration programme funded by Historic England and local authorities designed to help revive and revitalise historic high streets, with the virtual museum and gallery also supported by Arts Council England funding.