A hospice charity is urging residents and visitors to help save an art trail which has been blighted by vandalism.

Ten sculptures of Shaun the Sheep, on display across the city as part of an art trail to raise money for Martlets, have been damaged by vandals - with the charity reporting a week of “unprecedented damage”.

Each sculpture that is damaged can cost up to £7,500 to repair. The charity is concerned that some sculptures may not be able to be sold at auction at the end of next month, when over £250,000 is hoped to be raised to provide care and support for families facing death and bereavement.

Tanya Hunt, director of income generation at Martlets, said: “We know the sheep look so tempting to sit or jump up on, but they’re not toys - they’re works of art to be auctioned with an essential fundraising role in keeping Martlets caring.

“After the difficulties our city faced through Covid lockdowns, we wanted to reconnect people to our work with a moment of joy.

“We’ve worked so hard along with our artists and sponsors to bring this trail to life, and with thousands of apps downloaded and maps handed out, we know so many are enjoying it.

“We want people to make memories that matter, but stop and think before clambering on a sculpture for a photo or to impress your mates after a night out.

“We are urging everyone in our community to spread the word of the need for our work, keep the Shauns safe and keep Martlets caring.

“Please don’t climb on them, don’t sit on them, don’t graffiti them. Instead, please donate to help us keep the trail live until November 5 for all to enjoy.

“Every donation, no matter its size, has a direct impact on people who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness. It will mean that as people face their final days they can be lived with dignity and compassion, receiving specialist end-of-life care that Martlets delivers.”

READ MORE: Shaun the Sheep sculpture 'broken and left in gutter' is tenth to be vandalised

Some of the artists behind the designs of the sculptures have also issued a rallying cry to residents and visitors to stop the Shauns from being damaged.

They said: “A single sheep can take well over one hundred hours to paint. We were excited to see our work go out on the streets and our hope was that they would be enjoyed by the visitors and residents in Brighton and Hove.

“We are proud to have played our part in hopefully raising much-needed funds to ensure the vital work of Martlets continues.

“However, we have also been deeply saddened and upset by the way that a few people have treated our work. Several of the sculptures have been deliberately damaged and some will take considerable expense and more of our time to repair them to that they are able to be auctioned.”

A £3 donation to Martlets can be made by texting SHEEP to 70460. Donations can also be made by visiting shaunbythesea.co.uk/donate.