A ZEAL of zebras paraded through the streets of Southampton today as the public got a first glimpse of the hotly-anticipated Marwell’s Zany Zebra trail.

The brightly-decorated sculptures enjoyed a tour of the city centre as excitement builds of the official start of the trial on Saturday.

Today, however, saw 31 of the sculptures showcased from 1pm as they travelled from South Front, near Hoglands Park, through Poundtree Road towards Guildhall Square and back down Above Bar Street towards Poundtree Road before heading through Queen's Way and Bernard Street before going along the High Street through Castle Way and Bargate Street and back to Poundtree Road.

The Cannon family made the trip from Eastleigh to catch a glimpse of the parade. Lee Cannon, said: "It's good for the kids as it teaches them about wildlife. We've made a day of it with lunch too."

In all 47 large sculptures will take up their positions around Southampton for the public to find, there will also be a miniature version of the trial at Marwell Zoo near Winchester.

Schools, youth organisations and supporters have also got involved by decorating 103 smaller versions of the zebra sculptures which will also be let loose around the city, primarily inside shops.

The trail aims to raise awareness of the endangered Grevy's zebra and after the event the sculptures will be auctioned to raise cash for Marwell's conservation work and to support communities living alongside less than 3,000 remaining wild zebra in the arid rangelands of northern Kenya.

It comes after the success of the Go! Rhinos trail which invaded the city in 2013, raising £125,000 to support endangered animals.