Shauns begin to appear ahead of Bristol trail

The firsts Shaun the Sheep figures are being slowly installed around Bristol ahead of the start of the trail next week.

The sheep, part of Shaun in the City, were delivered over the Clifton Suspension Bridge on the back of a tractor by their creator, Aardman founder Nick Park.

Our flamboyant Bristol flock crossed @brunelsbridge by tractor − driven by none other than Nick Park! #shauninthecity pic.twitter.com/K3acQIfXdl

— Shaun in the City (@shaun_inthecity) July 2, 2015

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Shaun in the City starts officially on Monday, but a number of the colourful statues have already found their place next some Bristol landmarks.

The Grand Appeal, the charity behind Shaun in the City, revealed eight new Shauns on Thursday morning ready to hit the streets this weekend.

Some of the Shaun the Sheep sculptures revealed ahead of the @shaun_inthecity trail starting Monday! pic.twitter.com/8DzuJ31dW0

— Made in Bristol TV (@madeinbristoltv) July 2, 2015

A Brunel Shaun has already been spotted in position next to Clifton Suspension Bridge, while a pirate Shaun, a Shrek Shaun and a Air Fleece Shaun have also been unveiled.

The Shaun in the City trail is expected to draw thousands of tourists to Bristol this summer.

SPOTTED – next to @brunelsbridge – it’s @shaun_inthecity! #Bristol #LoveBristol pic.twitter.com/Hta6lclbgm

— SACO Apartments (@SACOApartments) July 2, 2015

Gromit Unleashed, a similar trail in 2012, saw fans flood in from around the world and raised £2.3 million for charity.

There will be 70 Shauns in total dotted around the city, with a map and app to guide tourists around the trail.

Some of the giant @shaunthesheep sculptures have been revealed ahead of the Shaun in the City trail starting Monday pic.twitter.com/v7dcRCP991

— Sam FM News (@samfmnews) July 2, 2015

The Shaun in the City trail came under fire when the locations were revealed in May.

Critics argued that the sponsored sheep were only appearing in the more affluent areas of the city.

With his super-whipped hairdo, sprinkles & strawberry sauce, we love @carys_ink‘s Fab-ewe-lous http://t.co/k5ZCVBhrAF pic.twitter.com/PpDcs4ukc4

— Shaun in the City (@shaun_inthecity) June 29, 2015

The sculptures have been designed by high-profile artists, designers and big business collaborators including DreamWorks Animation, Thunderbirds, Laura Ashley, Great British Bake-Off illustrator Tom Hovey, Beatrix Potter, Bagpuss creator Peter Firmin and ‘Red or Dead’ designer Wayne Hemingway.

Some of the designs have been slowly leaked on social media ahead of the official start of the trail.

Great view of @shaun_inthecity crossing the @brunelsbridge from the #CliftonObservatory this morning! #bristol pic.twitter.com/1td7IfjnEb

— Clifton Observatory (@Clifton_Observ) July 2, 2015

Nick Park brings baa-rilliant Shauns over @brunelsbridge ahead of @shaun_inthecity launch on Monday #HeartNews pic.twitter.com/9eXg9KLU6z

— Hayley Grainger (@hayleygrainger) July 2, 2015