Giant Elf on the Shelf to hide out across city

A 15ft elf will appear in locations across the city centre from December

A game popular with families during the festive season will be acted out in a a larger-than-life fashion across Liverpool city centre in the run up to Christmas.

In a giant twist on the Elf on the Shelf game, a 15ft (4.5m) version of the character will appear at various locations between 1-24 December.

The Scouse elf will be moved at night to different areas of the city, with visitors encouraged to seek out the elf, named 'R'Elf', each morning.

Born out of the 2005 picture book entitled The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition, the game has sparked global appeal as a popular yuletide tradition whereby Santa's elves visit families each day during the festive season.

Leanne Wilks, of Liverpool BID Company who are organising the game, said: “Liverpool loves a spectacle so as soon as we saw the giant The Elf on the Shelf we just had to get involved.

“This is going to be full of fun and joy and we want to be able to spread Christmas cheer with this larger-than-life game of hide-and-seek this December," she said.

The elf will land on buildings across the city including those on Old Hall Street, Hope Street and along the Waterfront to Lime Street.

On a Saturday morning, the elf will settle in a new spot for the weekend before setting off to be found in a new place on Monday.

The character is the creation of prop and puppet-maker Jenny Simmons, Liverpool BID Company, The Lumistella Company's official The Elf on the Shelf team and Rocket Licensing.

Daily clues of the elf's whereabouts will be available on the BID's social media channels.