A NEW hare has arrived dressed ready for a warm British summer at one Cirencester motoring business.

Pebbles the hare has moved into Pebley Beach garage on Love Lane Industrial Estate and is already pulling in eager hare-spotters.

Part of the Cirencester March Hare Festival, Pebbles was created by local artist Mike Smith and has already been added to the town's popular hare trail.

"I think the festival is brilliant," said Mike. "I've seen a lot of people around town having their photo taken with the hares and it's just great to get involved in public art."

The Cirencester Hare Festival has seen more than 50 uniquely decorated hare models, all standing at five foot tall, dotted around the town centre and surrounding areas. Each hare is sponsored by a different business or individual.

Children and families have been scouting out all the hares on the trail and have recently started exploring a new trail, called Hare and Seek, which is made up of smaller, life-size hares sitting in the windows of restaurants and shops.

Pebbles, who stands at five foot tall in the Suzuki garage, has already received many visitors, all eager to have their photo taken with him. Sales director of Pebley Beach Mike Brunsdon said he wanted the company's hare to be like "pebbles on the beach".

"I was absolutely blown away when I saw Pebbles," said Pebley Beach owner Mike. "Mike surpassed all my expectations. We have always done a lot for the community and this is a nice, different way of raising money."

The fun-looking hare wears cool Ray-ban shades, a straw hat, and a Victorian-style swimsuit.

In late September, the hares will go on auction to raise money for a Gloucestershire Wildlife Project in Cirencester. A total of £50,000 is expected to be raised which will go towards creating a wild walkway around the River Churn.