SNOWDOGS by the Sea is up for an award.

The charity art trail is in the running to scoop the trophy for best event at this year’s Brighton and Hove Businesses Awards.

The teams behind the project at The Martlets hospice in Hove and Wild In Art are up against Brighton Fringe and social activities organisation Impact Initiatives for the prize.

The winners will be announced on Thursday, September 14, at Proud Country House in Stanmer Park.

Martlets chief executive Imelda Glackin said it was fantastic news and it was a testament to the exuberance, joy and colour of the project.

She added: “The campaign was about bringing something to the city and bringing the city together, underpinned by The Martlets story that life is for living and to live your life to the full.

“We were overwhelmed by its success and to be nominated is recognition of that which demonstrates as a charity that we are constantly operating with a business head and the heart of a charity.”

Charlie Langhorne, director of Albourne-based Wild in Art, said: “It’s so exciting to be nominated for this award. It is a reflection of the success of the project and crucially a reflection of the incredible contribution of Brighton and Hove’s artistic community and the businesses who helped to make it possible, as well as The Martlets who were brilliant to work with.

“It was very exciting to have the event in my home city but that was also quite daunting as my friends and family could see what I do as my job.”

The trail contributed more than £10 million to the city’s economy, according to research published in July.

The news came as the hospice confirmed it is working on another trail for autumn 2018 with Albourne-based public art event company Wild in Art.

Speculation on what shape the sculptures will take has already begun but organisers are remaining tight lipped until later this year.

Last year the trail saw more than 40 brightly coloured sculptures in the shape of the character from The Snowman and the Snowdog film gracing the city between September and December.

It attracted more than 350,000 visitors and Argus coverage of the event as media partner helped to attract much of this attention, the survey said.

Sponsors include MD Hub, the University of Brighton, Red7, Healys, Churchill Square and NatWest who join City Cabs, Yelo Architects, Graves Jenkins, Chamber of Commerce, Cardens, Martin Searle Solicitors and Robinson Low Francis. Juice 107.2 FM, Platinum Business and Title Sussex join The Argus as media sponsors.