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City hosts giant rats in sculpture trail for charity

Rachel Russell & Crispin Rolfe
BBC News
Crispin Rolfe/BBC A rat sculpture painted with a yellow jumper and displayed on a wooden board outside The DeepCrispin Rolfe/BBC
The sculptures are positioned at tourist attractions like The Deep as well as less visited areas of the city

A city is preparing for its streets to be filled with giant rat sculptures as part of a new art trail to honour a local musician.

A Mischief of Rats will be on display from 3 May in Hull and features 6ft tall (1.8m) painted rat sculptures for people to enjoy on a walking trail in the city.

Crispin Rolfe/BBC A blue rat sculpture being displayed near shops on a wooden platformCrispin Rolfe/BBC
Many of the designs feature references to Hull's maritime history
Crispin Rolfe/BBC Two workmen in high-vis jackets construct one of the sculptures in a street with an electric drill and other toolsCrispin Rolfe/BBC
Rats Ahoy is the work of jennywrendraws, a professional artist and illustrator from East Yorkshire

The art trail was created to pay tribute to rock musician Mick Ronson, who was from Hull and a member of the local 1960s band the Rats, before becoming David Bowie's guitarist.

Co-director Clare Huby previously said the trail would be launched ahead of what would have been the musician's 80th birthday on 26 May 2026.

She said: "I know people in Hull have been keen to have something that will honour Mick Ronson, so this just seemed like the perfect opportunity."

Crispin Rolfe/BBC A sculpture with lots of purple and blue colours and also holding what appears to be a book is also displayed next to the front entrance of a buildingCrispin Rolfe/BBC
The design by Rachael and Phillippa Corcutt features interesting facts about Hull

Ms Huby added the project would also help the Daisy Appeal charity, which s Cottingham's Castle Hill hospital, with the sculptures being auctioned in September.

The charity hopes to raise up to £250,000 for "cutting-edge research" into cancer.

Mick Ronson died of cancer in 1993 aged 46.

The art trail, which is similar to previous projects, including Larkin with Toads, A Moth for Amy and Puffins Galore, will run until August and includes locations in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Crispin Rolfe/BBC The sculptures wrapped in packaging and being stored indoors ahead of being unveiled for the art trailCrispin Rolfe/BBC
Crispin Rolfe/BBC A sculpture of a rat wearing a painted Batman costume complete with cowl stands in Queen Victoria SquareCrispin Rolfe/BBC
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na…Batrat! was designed by Traci Moss

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