THE Animals will come two by two to Sale next month, when a pair of giraffes become the first arrivals as part of a new community art project.

The 12 foot fibre glass creations form part of an ambitious project to fill the town’s streets with life-sized creatures decorated by locals during 2016.

More than 30 beasts are expected to arrive between now and next summer, when the Sale Art Zoo will celebrate the town’s links to Chester Zoo founder, George Mottershead.

“What we’re doing is a similar kind of project to the Manchester CowParade,” explained Zoe Taylor of community arts group, Two By Two.

“We’re going to gradually accumulate life size animals which were going to place around the town, hosting workshops with adults and children to decorate them.”

The scheme recently won a share of £20,000 Trafford Council grant funding, allowing them to buy their first acquisitions – a pair of giraffes.

Businesses will be able to sponsor their own animal, which will be decorated by professional artists and placed along the trail.

The creatures will arrive from a company in Devon that usually supplies theme parks and pubs, with prices ranging from £100 to several thousand.

“We’ve got our eyes on a life-sized Elephant, which will cost £3,700,” added Zoe, who runs Two By Two with fellow artist, Anna Chopping.

In a separate project, the pair are running a free ‘penguin parade’ workshop at Sale Library on Saturday, July 11 as part of the Sale Arts Trail.

Participants will be encouraged to pick up a penguin and personalise its penguin-suit, using materials provided.

Penguins will then be invited to take their place in the penguin parade installation through Sale Library, with each entered into a ‘best dressed penguin’ contest to win a prize.

For more on Two By Two, visit twobytwohurrah.co.uk or see their Twitter page @twobytwosale

For more about events taking place as part of the Sale Arts Trail, visit saleartstrail.com