A HERD of elephants is being unveiled 24 hours later than originally planned after police advised they should not be installed on the night of England’s Euro 2020 final.

Worcester’s Big Parade, the art project from Wild in Art raising money for St Richard’s Hospice, has taken the decision to postpone its grand launch after receiving the advice from West Mercia Police.

The art trail, featuring 66 elephants along a route across the city, will be installed on Monday, ahead of an unveiling on Tuesday.

Tricia Cavell, fundraising director for St Richard’s Hospice, said: “Bringing a herd of elephants to the city, lifting them into place safely and securing them is a mammoth logistical exercise which was planned over many hours during the evening of Sunday (July 11).

“Understandably this isn’t something we can carry out safely while city revellers prepare for one of the biggest sporting occasions since 1966.

“While it isn’t ideal to be making this change to our start date, we’ll all be cheering England on.

“Our herd will still be every bit as spectacular on Tuesday and for eight weeks over the summer.”

The decision could have also been influenced by the issues of summer 2018, when revellers were spotted riding the giraffe sculptures of the Worcester Stands Tall art trail in Worcester city centre at night.

Thousands are expected in the city centre to watch England’s final against Italy, with the kick off at 8pm.

After the news was tweeted it, it had the support of many with it being called a “wise move” and a good decision to “keep them safe”.

READ MORE: Keep off the giraffes! More people spotted riding Worcester sculptures

The six-mile art trail features 30 large elephants, 36 smaller calf sculptures - all designed and painted by artists from the local area and across the UK - and two interactive digital installations. It will be available to view until Sunday, September 5.

The Worcester News is one of the partners of Worcester’s Big Parade, which will see all the elephants auctioned off to raise money for the hospice’s ongoing care for patients living with serious progressive illnesses and their loved ones.

Worcester Stands Tall giraffes, that were on display for 10-weeks in 2018, raised more than £200,000 for the hospice at auction.