The first bio-Liver bird has been created in Liverpool after scientists had a brainwave in a pub.

The "cultured" logo has been created in a petri dish as a contribution to the city's bid to become Capital of Culture 2008.

The 10ins by 12ins bacteria logo - based on the culture bid insignia - emerged in just a few days in a lab at the city's university.

After a prototype was drawn on the back of beer mat bio-technologist Sarah Stamper took the idea and developed the logo.

I got a beer mat, did a rough draft, took it back to the lab and eureka, it worked

Sarah Stamper

City leaders said the work was an example of what the bid is about - the realising of new ideas.

It has led the university to set up a "Create a Culture" competition, which is open to city residents to come up with an image they think symbolises the city.

Ms Stamper, of MerseyBIO, which is based at the city's university, said: "I was sitting in the pub thinking how all this history and innovation could fit in with the bid and I just struck the idea of using culture in the scientific way.

"I'd seen the logo and thought it would be cool to culture that.

'Extremely creative'

"I got a beer mat, did a rough draft, took it back to the lab and eureka! it worked."

City council leader Mike Storey said the bio-logo would spur people into coming up with other ways of contributing to the culture bid.

"The people of Liverpool are extremely creative and imaginative."

Sir Bob Scott, leader of the culture bid, said: "Liverpool has and continues to be at the cutting edge of the arts and indeed science and this is a brilliant example of how they can compliment each other."