The Pied Piper Appeal has been chosen as the lead charity, alongside two other well deserving causes, to benefit from the Royal Three Counties Henson Trail which has seen pig sculptures galore across the county.

In partnership with Marketing Gloucester, the Pied Piper Appeal will be staging an exciting and unique live auction in September where the magnificent pigs will be rounded up and taken to Highnam Court, near Gloucester for a grand display in the gardens.

Viewing of the sculptures will take place over the weekend of the Pied Piper Silver Ball ready for an auction on Monday 25 September. Alongside Pied Piper, the other two charity beneficiaries are the Gloucestershire Arthritis Trust and Theatre Gloucestershire.

Nick Broady, chairman of Pied Piper which helps sick and disabled children, said: "The Royal Three Counties Henson Trail is amazing and already capturing the imagination and attention of the community and visitors to our city; an asset to the tourism and promotion of Gloucestershire.

"Once the trail closes at the end of August, all the pigs will be taken to Highnam Court for the most unusual auction to date! We are working with Rob York and his team at AMS Auctions to power the online auction that will start in August right through to a live event on Monday 25 September at Highnam.

"We are also pleased to be sponsored by Creed Foodservices who will be offering a hog roast to our auction guests and bidders on the night." Auction details will be released next month.

Jason Smith, CEO at Marketing Gloucester added: "The sponsorship and excitement around the Henson Trail, following the launch at the Royal Three Counties Show, has proved very popular with many local companies 'adopting' a painted pig.

"We thought it important to consider the legacy of the Royal Three Counties Henson Trail sculptures and by partnering with three leading Gloucestershire charities we will be auctioning all the pigs online and live in September, managed by the Pied Piper. We are happy we can assist raising funds for some excellent causes and appreciate all the support from the Royal Three Counties Show, Adam Henson and the Appeal."

Gloucester Rugby star Charlie Sharples, vice patron of the Pied Piper, took some pig sculptures to the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital to entertain the children in the play area on the Children's Ward. He said: "Funds raised in September at the auction will benefit sick and disabled children; this is why we are doing it. So we hope the community and local businesses support this great opportunity to adopt and own an Old Spot and help raise money in the process."

Representatives from the Gloucestershire Arthritis Trust and Theatre Gloucestershire also visited the ward.

Henson, the loveable pig is popping up around the county this summer for Marketing Gloucester's latest sculpture trail. Organised in partnership with the Royal Three Counties Show, the Gloucestershire Old Spots Trail starring Henson Pig features thirty sculptures in the city of Gloucester with a further twenty around the county.

Children of all ages and sculpture trail aficionados will be exploring one of the UK's most beautiful counties, searching for the porcine mascot high and low.

The Gloucestershire Old Spots pig was chosen as the basis for Marketing Gloucester's latest trail as it was synonymous with the proud agricultural history of the county in the year when Gloucestershire featured as the host county at the Royal Three Counties Show. It was the first pig to receive pedigree status in the UK.

Pictured: Charlie Sharples with, from left,  Gwen McEwan and daughter Lily-May Weston; nurses from the Children's Ward; Ropert McKenzie, Theatre Gloucestershire; Sally Eyre, Gloucestershire Arthritis Trust; Anna Buckland, Theatre Gloucestershire and Richard West from Pied Piper.