THE Wilfred Owen Story - the country's first permanent tribute to the wartime poet - is moving to a new location.

The exhibition, which has been based in Argyle Street, Birkenhead since March 2011, celebrates the work of the late WWI soldier and tells the story of his earlier years on the borough.

Founded by Oxton-based musician Dean Johnson, it gives Wilfred Owen fans the chance to view his work and find other landmarks associated with his life.

It will be officially opened at its new home, West Kirby Arts Centre in Brookfield Gardens, West Kirby - at 12pm on Remembrance Sunday (November 10) as part of a one day Festival Of Commemoration.

The day will also feature the opening view of a Wilfred Owen based art exhibition, illustrated poetry readings and analysis and a special performance of the musical drama Bullets And Daffodils written by Dean Johnson and featuring the voice of All Creatures Great and Small, Doctors and EastEnders star Christopher Timothy.

The exhibition's founder, Dean Johnson - who attended the same school as Owen – the Birkenhead Institute – told the Globe: "Owen spent summer holidays at his Auntie and Uncle's home in Bertram Drive in nearby Meols.

"'It is really lovely here' he wrote in one letter. 'There are miles of fields in front of the house and it is not far from the sea.'

"'In other letters, he speaks of going ‘on the lake’ at West Kirby.

"Most poignantly, it was the decision of his relatives not to assist in funding Wilfred's entry into university that ultimately led to Wilfred's decision to join up and enlist in World War One."

Born in Oswestry in 1893, Wilfred was brought up in Birkenhead and is recognised as one of the greatest voices of the First World War.

He also has a road named after him, on the former site of Birkenhead Institute, which is now a housing estate.

In 1915, he enlisted in the British Army and was killed, aged 25, on November 4, 1918, during the battle to cross the Sambre-Oise canal at Ors in Northern France.

At the time of his death he was virtually unknown.

Only four of his poems were published during his lifetime.

But he had always been determined to be a poet and had experimented with verse from an early age.

Among his 62 poems are 1914, Dulce et decorum est and Anthem For Doomed Youth.

"During its time in Birkenhead, the Wilfred Owen Story received hundreds of visitors a year from all over the UK and abroad.

"Its new situation has the potential to host large groups, and expand with seminars, workshops and writing retreats in the heart of the beautiful Brookfield Gardens."