Giant hares go under the hammer in Cirencester

A Gloucestershire town's sculpture trail of decorated giant hares has raised £113,000 for a local wildlife charity after the five foot tall models were auctioned at the weekend.

The sculpture trail around Cirencester during the summer was inspired by a Roman mural found in the town in the 1970s which depicts hares,

The money will be used by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust for projects aimed at improving the environment and helping young people - including a new wildlife walk called the Green Hare Churn Way.

The plan is to open up the River Churn near to Cirencester and put in wildflower meadows and habitats.

Forty 5ft hare statues are to be auctioned today to raise money for the Gloucester Wildlife Trust. They've been on display around Cirencester since March. Ken Goodwin was there at the project's inception:

As the Cirencester Hare Festival finally hops out of town, people are getting the chance to buy a piece of it for posterity.

Forty 5ft fantasy hare statues were dotted on display around Cirencester over the spring and summer. Decorated by local artists, celebrities and school children, the statues are made of fibre glass and were individually sponsored by local businesses and community groups.

Now the statues are to be auctioned to help raise money for the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. You can take a last look at the hoard of hares at Bingham Hall from 16:00pm, before the auction starts at 19:00.