Banjo played by Beatles star John Lennon unveiled

John Lennon would have been 85

A banjo played by John Lennon is being unveiled alongside a mosaic featuring nearly 1,300 images of The Beatles star to mark what would have been his 85th birthday.

Fans are expected from around the world for the celebrations at Strawberry Field on Beaconsfield Road in Liverpool, which feature a live performance at 12:00 BST by The Quarrymen, Lennon's original band with his former bandmates Rod Davis and Colin Hanton in the line-up.

The five-string banjo will join Strawberry Field's collection of artefacts which includes the piano on which Lennon wrote Imagine.

Strawberry Field said Beatles fans had submitted images for the Lennon photomosaic wall.

Lennon fans are invited to leave a message of peace on the original Strawberry Field gates until Sunday.

Those unable to get to the Salvation Army site - which inspired The Beatles 's 1967 hit Strawberry Fields Forever - can share their message online.

Lennon and Davis played the banjo with The Quarrymen including at the legendary Woolton Church fete on 6 July 1957 when Lennon first met Paul McCartney.

Lennon formed the skiffle and rock 'n' roll group The Quarrymen alongside Davis, Pete Shotton, Hanton, Eric Griffiths and Len Garry.

The group was later joined by McCartney and Harrison.

McCartney, Lennon and Harrison evolved into The Beatles, along with Pete Best, until he was replaced by Ringo Starr in August 1962.

Lennon was shot dead on 8 December 1980 as he returned to his home at the Dakota apartment building in New York City.