9:07 am, October 9, 2013
WESSEX Garage has paid £21,000 for a four-legged Gromit pooch, which featured in a charity art exhibition in Bristol.
This particular statue of the Gromit character from the popular TV show, Wallace and Gromit, is just one of 11 mini versions of the 80 five-foot Gromits that were hidden around the streets of Bristol earlier this year for the public art trail, Gromit Unleashed.
Earlier this month, the sculptures designed by famous artists, designers and celebrities went to auction, raising an outstanding £2,357,000 for Wallace and Gromit’s Grand Appeal to help support the Bristol Children’s Hospital.
The attraction is set to tour all Wessex Garage dealerships in Bristol, Cardiff, Gloucester and Newport until the firm opens its all-new showroom at Cribbs Causeway in Bristol, where Gromit will find his permanent home.
Director, Steve Patch, said: ‘The auction was exhilarating and we are thrilled that we now have our very own Gromit. Bristol Children’s Hospital is such a worthy cause and we’re delighted we could help them with their fundraising efforts.
‘We bid for a mini statue of the cheeky canine character and there were 10 others this size too. The patients at the hospital painted the sculpture throughout the trail.’
He added: ‘We have decided our version of the famous sidekick will take pride of place in our new showroom, which we aim to open at Cribbs Causeway in 2015. Until then it will tour all our dealerships in Bristol, Gloucester, Cardiff and Newport. We want to give more people the chance to see this amazing sculpture.’
