Bristol's Gromit Unleashed trail gears up for a busy summer in aid of Bristol Children's Hospital27th June 2013

Bristol's shopping centres are gearing up for Gromit Unleashed, a charity initiative that is set to attract thousands of visitors to the city this summer and boost retail footfall.

Led by Oscar-winning Aardman Animations, this new public art exhibition takes place from 1 July. It will see 80 giant Gromit statues – each decorated by local and famous artists and celebrities - take up residence at locations throughout Bristol.

The Gromits will be auctioned after the ten-week trail with all funds raised going towards Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity, Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal, which since its launch in 1995 has raised £12 million for the purpose-built facility.

Retail locations lined up to display the 5ft tall works of art include The Galleries Shopping Centre, Cabot Circus and Quakers Friars, all of which are in the Shopping Quarter in the heart of Bristol’s city centre.

With the support of tourism agencies Destination Bristol and VisitEngland, organisers have high hopes that the sculpture trail will give the city and its businesses a major economic boost, particularly as so many well known celebrities are involved.

“It’s all very exciting particularly as so many high profile people have got behind the event,” said Jo Hawkins of Destination Bristol.

“Musician Jools Holland, actress Joanna Lumley, Royal hat designer Philip Traecy and designers Cath Kidston and Diarmuid Gavin have all designed Gromits and are helping to raise awareness of this fantastic cause.”

The Galleries centre manager, Colin Lang, said: “I speak for all Bristol retailers in saying that we are excited about the start of this fun and colourful initiative, which will certainly help put the city on the world tourist map.

“Larger visitor numbers means increased footfall and revenue for retailers and this event is sure to add to the vibrancy of the Bristol shopping experience over the summer months.”