Dazzle Camouflage design painted on a wall in Chelsea, London. Photo: Ron Ellis/Shutterstock.com

A Mersey ferry is getting a pop art makeover from Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band artist Sir Peter Blake.

The Snowdrop, which carries passengers across the river and along the Manchester Ship Canal, will be repainted with a distinctive design in the style of the wartime dazzle ships that were camouflaged with complex patterns of geometric shapes.

Sir Peter's design, called Everybody Razzle Dazzle, will stay on the boat for two years and passengers will be able to visit an on-board exhibition about the work of the ferries in World War I.

It will also examine the history of the dazzle ships, which had strange patterns on them that made it difficult for enemies to track them.

Sir Peter Blake. Photo: Ian West/PA

Sir Peter, who became famous for his collage design on the front of The Beatles’ most famous album, said: “I've had a long association with Liverpool over the years and I'm honoured and excited to be asked to design a dazzle image for the iconic Mersey Ferry.”

Tate Liverpool hosted a retrospective of his work in 2007 and he created an updated version of the album sleeve as part of the city’s bid to become European Capital of Culture 2008.

Councillor Liam Robinson, who chairs Merseytravel that owns and operates the ferries, said: “We are proud to be supporting a project of local, regional and national significance. The Snowdrop being transformed into a giant, moving art canvas will be bring a new dimension to its iconic trips across the Mersey and its cruises along the Manchester Ship Canal.”