IT is used to stampedes of shoppers during the sales but one Hampshire shopping centre is preparing itself for a charge of a different kind.

WestQuay is the latest business to get on board with Marwell Zoo’s Zany Zebras sculpture trail and cannot wait to have its very own life-sized zebra to greet shoppers.

In 2013, the shopping centre offered itself as a home for one of the Go! Rhinos sculptures, Ringo, whose decoration was inspired by the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead, which remembers the lives of loved ones lost.

And now it is looking forward to doing the same again when a zeal of zebras descend on Southampton for a new public art extravaganza in the summer of 2016.

Alex Thomas, marketing manager of WestQuay, said: “We are so pleased to be working on another exciting partnership with Marwell Wildlife and their Zany Zebras.

“Our shoppers certainly enjoyed engaging with Go! Rhinos back in 2013 and we look forward to welcoming our zebra and raising funds to conserve endangered zebras and other wildlife.”

The animal was chosen because Marwell has strong links to the grevy zebra, for which it coordinates the international breeding programme for the breed in captivity.

The zebra sculptures will later be auctioned off to raise money for conservation work in northern Kenya.

Kirstie Mathieson, project manager for Marwell’s Zany Zebras, said: “We are delighted to be working with WestQuay again. Projects of this nature are a fantastic way of putting a city on the map and highlighting what they offer as a destination.”

Businesses across the region are invited to sponsor one of the sculptures, which will be decorated by local artists and positioned along the trail through the city centre.

If you want to sponsor your own Zany Zebra visit zanyzebras.org.uk/sponsors.