Visitors pay final farewell to Brighton Shaun the Sheep sculptures

More than 100 sculptures of the much-loved children’s character were on display at the Brighton Centre following the Shaun by the Sea art trail in the autumn.

Children giddy with excitement ran to see their favourite sculpture, while others took pictures, made models of Shaun and listened to a children’s choir singing festive songs.

Families also looked to stock up on Shaun the Sheep merchandise ahead of the holiday season, with Christmas cards, books and toys of the character.

Santa also made an appearance at the event, greeting children and giving them toys.

Santa met with children at this weekend's event (Image: The Argus)

Along with all the sculptures from the trail was a new not-seen-before Brighton and Hove Albion Shaun, which attracted much interest from visitors.

Shaun Le Sheep, which had been taken off the art trail after being damaged by vandals, also returned for the final farewell weekend with a newly improved design.

Nina Blades visited all of the Shauns on the art trail with her husband David and said she thought the sculptures were “brilliant”.

“I like the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing - it was near where we live and I just love the cheekiness of that,” she said.

David said: “I just like the idea of it all with all the different artists and different locations across Brighton - a lovely reason to go out.”

Nina Blades and husband David with the Wolf in Sheep's Clothing sculpture (Image: The Argus)

Ellie visited the final farewell with her mum Kat Gardner and grandfather Robert Green. Her favourite Shaun was Anarchy in the Ewe-K, which was based in the North Laine during the art trail.

“I’ve been blown away - I think it’s brilliant. The artists have been absolutely fantastic,” Robert said.

“Each one is so different - it’s amazing.”

Ellie with her grandfather Robert Green (Image: The Argus)

The sculptures were on public display for the last time before they are auctioned off tomorrow to raise money for the hospice charity Martlets.

Organisers are hoping to raise more than £250,000 from the auction, which will also see Fatboy Slim perform.

A spokeswoman for the charity said: “We’ve had a really good weekend and we’ve seen thousands of people come through the doors, all to celebrate the end of what has been an amazing trail for us.

“The past two auctions have been really successful and we know there’s a lot of love for Shaun in a way we perhaps haven’t seen with the other trails.”

More than 100 sculptures of Shaun the Sheep were on display (Image: The Argus)

She said that merchandise sales and the proceeds from tomorrow’s auction all go towards providing life-changing hospice care.

“We are at quite a pivotal time as we have just opened our new building and the event is a real celebration of what Martlets does for the community,” she said.

But which Shaun proved the most popular during the trail and final farewell weekend?

“The most voted throughout the trail was Anarchy in the Ewe-K and we’re seeing a lot of love for our new Albion Shaun as it is something different - and Shaun Le Sheep is back as well,” the spokeswoman said.