An 8” statue of one of Aardman’s first creations, Morph, will go to auction in Clevedon to raise funds for St Peter’s Hospice.

Donated by Aardman co-founder and creative director Peter Lord, the plasticine model will go into the Autumn Specialist Sale on 12 September at Clevedon Salesrooms.

The model comes with a letter of authentication from Peter Lord and it is hoped that it will raise hundreds of pounds for Bristol’s only adult hospice.

Sally McCleary, St Peter’s Hospice e-commerce manager, said: “It is an honour to have this item donated by Peter Lord, along with a personal letter, to raise money for our Hospice. Receiving a special item like this is so wonderful and we are hopeful that it will draw attention from collectors and Aardman enthusiasts.

“We know that previous Morphs, sold with animation stills and letters, have achieved up to £800 so we’re hoping for a great amount to go towards patient care at our Hospice and in the community.

“Morph is such a recognisable and iconic character, the new owner will be lucky to have a little piece of Bristol history on their shelf!”

Morph was one of Aardman Animations first creations, first appearing on screen in 1977. An animated clay character, Morph made his debut in the BBC children’s programme Take Hart, alongside artist and presenter Tony Hart.

Now with a loyal base of nostalgic fans, mischievous Morph has a growing audience of children who follow his adventures on YouTube and Sky Kids.

Funds raised at the auction will go to St Peter’s Hospice which provides holistic support to patients, covering the physical, psychological, social and spiritual issues that can arise as a result of serious, incurable illness.

All care is provided free of charge, but the Hospice relies on gifts in wills, donations, fundraising and its shops to deliver services. It costs around £27,000 a day to provide that care.

To find out more about St Peter’s Hospice and how you can support visit www.stpetershospice.org.uk

The Autumn Specialist Sale will take place on 12 September at 10.30am. For more information visit Clevedon Salerooms | The Autumn Specialist Sale (the-saleroom.com)