Calling all budding artists - the Turner Trail competition has begun.

To coincide with the arrival of a painting by the highly acclaimed J. M. W. Turner, Bridport Museum is inviting children and young people to enter their own interpretations of the artist's painting of Bridport Harbour.

The watercolour artwork, on loan from the Bury Art Museum in Lancashire, dates from the early 1800s. It depicts the now iconic Jurassic Coast cliffs and shows a ship being pulled ashore using Bridport rope.

Talented individuals under the age of 16 are being asked to submit paintings and drawings on the theme of ships and sunsets.

Emily Hicks, director at Bridport Museum, said: "We are looking for creations from the children and young people of Birdport to be displayed in miniature in the museum itself. They will form part of a trail for families to enjoy around the museum."

The exhibition trail, which opens on Saturday, June 29, will also feature the works of museum founder, Captain Alfred Percy Codd. Himself a huge fan of Turner, Codd spent many days at the National Gallery in London, analysing and reproducing many of his paintings. Codd then gifted his interpretations to the Bridport Museum in 1932.

Families are invited to use the resources at the museum to work on their creations. An entry form can be downloaded from the website, and all works must be submitted by 5pm on Friday, June 14.

One overall winner will win a special arty prize and have their artwork framed.

Bridport Museum have thanked several organisations for their help in putting the exhibition together. They include the Friends of Dorset Museum, Bridport Town Council and Bridport Round Table.

School groups are warmly invited to come along to the exhibition and take in the spectacular works of Turner, Codd and young Bridport residents. Visits are free, but should be booked in advance.

To find out more about the competition and the exhibition itself, visit www.bridportmuseum.co.uk.

Further events to celebrate the arrival of the Turner in Bridport are being planned, with a full programme soon available from the website.