The Pigs Gone Wild art trail in Ipswich was a huge success in the summer of 2016 – and now details of the follow-up are finally set to be announced.

Ipswich Star: Lilian Wesson with one of the pig sculptures in Ipswich in 2016Lilian Wesson with one of the pig sculptures in Ipswich in 2016

The official “reveal” for the follow-up event – again a collaboration between St Elizabeth Hospice and Wild in Art – will take place next Wednesday evening in Ipswich.

Exactly what the sculptures will be remains a closely guarded secret, but project manager Norman Lloyd, who also led Pigs Gone Wild, thinks people will love them.

He said: “I have known for more than six months what the sculptures are going to be. It has been the hardest thing to keep it quiet!

“I think people are going to love the new sculptures.”

Ipswich Star: Norman Lloyd with Ed Sheer-Ham and Tally-Ho outside the University of Suffolk during Pigs Gone Wild. Norman will also be project manager of the new trail. Picture: SIMON PARKERNorman Lloyd with Ed Sheer-Ham and Tally-Ho outside the University of Suffolk during Pigs Gone Wild. Norman will also be project manager of the new trail. Picture: SIMON PARKER

There will be a trail of around 50 sculptures around the town, each beautifully painted with its own identity.

More than 20 of the main sculptures have already secured sponsors.

There will be a wait before the trail opens in summer 2019 - a reflection of how much work goes into the project.

Mr Lloyd said: “People loved the pigs and it has been seamless – I have been working on this since the end of the pigs.”

There will once again be lots of work with schools and youngsters, and there will be “junior sculptures”.

The art trail will be another collaboration between St Elizabeth Hospice and Wild in Art.

Research showed that a quarter of a million people visited Ipswich to enjoy the Pigs Gone Wild trail, and spent an extra £1million in the town. It raised £200,000 for organiser St Elizabeth Hospice.

It also strengthened people’s opinion of Ipswich, with more than 70% of visitors viewing Ipswich as a better place for arts and culture as a result, and 87% of people thinking the trail created a stronger sense of community in the town.

The independent research, conducted by Zing Insights, showed that 90% of people explored parts of Ipswich they wouldn’t have otherwise; and 50% said it has encouraged them to visit the town more.