York: Girl, 9, hopes to purchase sculpture at charity auction

Annie wants to buy one of the Snooks sculptures

A nine-year-old girl has saved up her pocket money so she can bid on one of 21 sculptures which have been displayed in York.

The Snooks sculptures have been on show in the city since March and are being auctioned at the Barbican on Thursday in aid of St Leonard's Hospice.

Annie O'Shaughnessy, from Holgate, said she hoped to have enough to secure one of the sculptures.

"They're really cute and brighten my day," she said.

Speaking to BBC Radio York, she said she wanted to bid for the Ey Up It's A Snook sculpture as it had "all the Yorkshire references", but she is concerned it could go for about £1,000.

Her mother Portia Gilbanks said they were not sure what they had in savings, but were looking forward to the auction as they had never been to one before.

"I saw on their website there was going to be an auction and I contacted them to ask if Annie could come as I wasn't sure if it was for children, but they couldn't wait for us and we're now VIPs," she said.

She added it would be "terrifying" to see how much Annie tries to bid as there would be "no stopping her".

Annie added that if she wins in the auction, the Snook will live in their garden, although she has not figured out how she will get it home yet.

"I might have to move some of the furniture around to get it in my back garden," she said.

The Snooks have been displayed around York since the start of March

Ms Gilbanks said: "If we can't get it through to the back garden, it will have to be in the front garden and used as a tourist attraction instead".

The Snooks sculptures have been displayed around various locations in York's city centre since the start of March, and are sponsored by a businesses or organisation based in the city.

The 21 individual 6ft (1.8m) tall sculptures were created by illustrator and mural artist Sian Ellis, who is Sheffield-based and has worked on many charity sculpture trails across the UK.

One of the snooks was displayed at the Barbican and has the name Starstruck Snook and has been signed by more than 30 performers, including Jack Whitehall, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Dawn French, Sarah Millican and the band members from Scouting for Girls. 

Derek Mathewson, from the television show Bangers and Cash, will host the auction and said he had never auctioned off such unique items, but he is hoping the "wealthy benefactors in and around York will put up some money and help me get them sold".