TWO giant bronze lion statues modelled on those which stand guard in London’s Trafalgar Square are to be sold at auction.

The statues, similar to those which surround Nelson’s Column, are due to go under the hammer at Summers Place auction house in Billingshurst in March.

They are built in the style of the originals designed by artist Sir Edwin Landseer.

James Rylands, director of Summers Place auctions, said: “We are delighted to be offering some more bronze sculptures from the world-famous Camden Lock Market in London.

“Beloved by both Londoners and overseas visitors, it is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the capital.

“The monumental bronze lions would look at home in the grandest of stately homes either in this country or abroad.”

The lions are nearly identical in size to the originals in Trafalgar Square, standing at almost 13ft in length and about 6ft 6in tall.

They were made in the late 20th century to be installed at Camden Lock Market.

The original lions were installed in the square in 1867 after being cast by Carlo Marochetti at his studio in Kensington.

Sir Edwin is famed for creating four bronze lions on commission for the Government in 1858.

He was a key figure at the Royal Academy of Arts in London and was eventually knighted in 1850.

In 1815, when he was just 13-years-old, he had his first works of art and sculpture exhibited there.

Sir Edwin was later elected president of the Royal Academy in 1866 but he decided not to accept the role.

He died in October 1873 and the lion sculptures at the foot of Nelson’s Column were decorated with wreaths.

As well as the famous structures, he was also well known for his paintings and sculptures of horses, dogs and stags.

Lifesize horse sculptures will join the lions at the two-day sale of “conversation pieces” on March 20 and 21.

Also on offer at the auction house is a rare SA-4 Ganef rocket. The Soviet-made medium-range air defence missile measures almost 30ft in length and 10ft wide.

The rocket was unveiled for the first time first during a military parade in Moscow in May 1965.

It managed to reach speeds of up to Mach 4, which is around 4,940 kilometres per hour, with a range of between 31 and 34 miles.

It is expected to sell for up to £25,000 at auction.