WE’VE been warning you for months but now it’s finally happened – the lions have arrived in Bournemouth.

They crept up the beach while we were sleeping and are now making their way across the town in time for tonight’s VIP launch of Pride in Bournemouth.

Scores of elaborately decorated lion sculptures will be displayed around the borough from this weekend in the biggest public art event ever held in the area.

And locals and visitors are being urged to pick up a copy of a trail map and follow it to see the colourful spectacle for themselves.

Dozens of local businesses and schools have got involved and have put their own stamp on their sculptures.

From the Daily Echo’s own Headlion, to Dandilion, Santa Paws, Sublion and Lionsome Tonight, the large sculptures vary widely and show off the skills of local artists who have taken up the challenge to get involved.

And hundreds of local school children have also made their mark and will be proudly displaying their mini lions in Beales department store and in the Richmond Gardens shopping centre as part of the project.

Those who follow the trail will not only enjoy a leisurely walk around Bournemouth to spot the lions, they will also get the chance to win a family holiday to Kenya.

“Bournemouth’s artists really have created some spectacular lions for us all to enjoy” said Charlie Langhorne, director of Pride in Bournemouth. “The quality of the art and the imagination of the designs will showcase the town’s creativity while also encouraging people to follow the trail and discover, or re-discover, all that Bournemouth has to offer.”

Pride in Bournemouth will run until September 18 when all the lions will be auctioned off in a special event to be held at the Pavilion.

All the money raised will be donated to charities Julia’s House and the born Free Foundation.

Trail maps can be collected from Bournemouth’s Tourist information Centre from Saturday June 25 or can be downloaded from prideinbournemouth.com.