Two Chelsea Pensioners came face to face with the Royal Hospital Chelsea’s latest recruit – a 5ft sculpture of Shaun the Sheep!

The sculpture - also known as ‘Chelsea Pen-Shaun-er’ - is just one of 50 statues of Aardman’s much-loved farmyard friend currently on display all over the capital as part of a free charity arts trail, Shaun in the City, organised by Wallace & Gromit’s Children’s Charity.

The sculptures have each been individually decorated by a whole flock of artists, designers and celebrities, with ‘Chelsea Pen-Shaun-er’ specially designed by the Shaun in the City team in honour of the Chelsea Pensioners.

After the trail, the sculptures will be auctioned to raise money for Wallace & Gromit’s Children’s Charity, which supports children in hospitals all over the UK.

‘Chelsea Pen-Shaun-er’ can be found grazing at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Gardens by St Paul’s Cathedral, and has already proved very popular with visitors and Shaun-hunters alike.

Gordon Sanders and Douglas May visited the sculpture on Tuesday (April 21) and liked what they saw. Mr Saunders, who is 79 and has been a Chelsea Pensioner for six years, said: “Shaun carries off the Chelsea Pensioner uniform very well, even if he is lacking in military experience.

“It’s been a real pleasure to see Shaun today and we are very pleased that the Chelsea Pensioners have been depicted in this trail around London.”

Chelsea Pensioners Douglas May and Gordon Sanders with the special Shaun of the Sheep sculpture

Nicola Masters, director, Wallace & Gromit’s Children’s Charity, said, “With their distinctive scarlet uniforms and Tricorne hats, the Chelsea Pensioners are a truly iconic part of the culture of our capital, and we were keen to make sure that they were reflected in our trail.

“We think Shaun looks very dashing, and I am absolutely delighted to hear that Gordon Sanders and Douglas May are just as pleased with our ‘Chelsea Pen-Shaun-er’!”

The Shaun in the City trail finishes in London on May 25, with a second ‘flock’ of 70 different sculptures arriving in Bristol from July 6-August 31.

The whole flock of 120 sculptures will then go on display at exhibitions in both London and Bristol, before being auctioned for the charity in October.

Visitors can follow the trail and find the whole flock by collecting a free trail map or downloading the official ‘Shaun in the City: Sheep Spotter’ app, available on iOS and Android for £1.49.