MISCHIEF OF RATS PROJECT Image caption, Project co-director Rick Welton said the sculptures would be auctioned to raise money for research into cancer, heart disease and dementia

Giant rat sculpture trail to honour Bowie guitarist Mick Ronson

This article was first published by BBC News.

Fifty giant rat sculptures are to appear next summer to honour Spiders From Mars guitarist Mick Ronson.

The six foot (1.8m) tall statues will form an arts trail across Hull and East Yorkshire ahead of the 80th anniversary of his birth in 1946.

Mick Ronson joined British rock band The Rats in 1966 before he rose to fame as David Bowie’s lead guitarist. He died of cancer in 1993 aged 46.

Organisers said they hoped to raise up to £250,000 for “cutting-edge research” into the disease.