The former Mayor of Farnham, Mike Hodge, turned walk leader at the end of May when 27 people joined him for a guided tour of the Otter Wey Trail community art project.

Mr Hodge led the walkers on the seven-mile trek in search of 44, one-metre tall otters, decorated by a range of artists and sponsored by local businesses and organisations.

The Otter Wey Trail is a fundraising project that was adopted by Mr Hodge to raise money for Woodlarks and Brightwells Gostrey Centre, the charities he chose to support as mayor.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Hodge said: “We had a most enjoyable walk and it was a pleasure to welcome people from Farnham and surrounding villages, Woking, Guildford and Aldershot. Everyone enjoyed each other’s company and bonded well.

“The trail took a little longer than expected but a dozen or so stayed until the very end as they were determined to seek out all the otters so they could find their names and enter the competition to win the Farnham in Bloom otter.

“At the end of the walk, we all enjoyed a well-deserved drink and talked about the otter trail experience. Everyone agreed that the quality of work and imagination that went into creating the otters was truly amazing and a sight to behold. Others remarked that they had discovered parts of Farnham that they never knew existed. All in all, the walk was a great success.”

The otters will be on display until Friday, June 29, so there is still time for people to take part in the self-guided walk and to enter the competition to win an otter.

The otter trail leaflet and details about the project can be found at www.farnham.gov.uk, at Farnham Town Council’s office in South Street or from anywhere an otter is located.

Alternatively, people can see the otters when they gather for one last time at Gostrey Meadow on Saturday, June 30, which is the day of Farnham Carnival.

There will be an opportunity for visitors to vote for their favourite otter, and the school or community group receiving the most votes will be given their otter as a prize.

The Otter Wey project will end on July 9 when some of the otters are auctioned off at Farnham Castle. Anybody wishing to place a bid in advance of the auction can download the bidding form from www.farnham.gov.uk. All money raised will go to Woodlarks and Brightwells Gostrey Centre.

The Otter Wey community art project has been run by Blooming Arts and the Farnham Lions has assisted with raising sponsorship. Additional support has been given by the Farnham South Street Trust and the Farnham Institute charities.