A drove of hares are set to line Southend’s streets as our seaside town undergoes an artistic makeover.

Hares About Town, a spectacular public art event in partnership with Wild in Art, will hop its way across our seaside town from July for ten weeks.

A total of 30 hare sculptures, each individually designed by an artist and sponsored by a business, will form a free trail of discovery for the community to enjoy.

The hares will be fitted onto concrete plinths ahead of being installed along the seafront and other locations such as the High Street and Priory Park.

The trail of discovery will run from July 1 until September 12, when many of the sculptures will be auctioned to raise vital funds for Havens Hospices.

Just seven hares are still available for sponsorship and Louise Gloyne, of Havens, wants more businesses to get involved in the fun event.

She said: “Sponsorship opportunities have been snapped up.

“I can’t emphasise how much value businesses receive in return for sponsoring a sculpture and choosing their preferred design.

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“There are limitless possibilities for stakeholder and staff engagement, community outreach, profile raising and creative fun.”

More than 50 businesses, schools and community groups have registered to take part in the project, making it one of the largest mass-participation art events ever to be held in the town.

The Hares About Town trail is aiming to engage with more than 100,000 people.

The Echo has thrown its backing behind the event by sponsoring Fun Hare, an eye-catching sculpture by professional artist Graham Collins.

The likes of Rossi, the Royals Shopping Centre, c2c and Genting Casino have also got involved.

To sponsor a hare, visit haresabouttown.co.uk.