SUMMER may be over for this year but the charge is on to make next summer the wildest yet for Hampshire.

The county is set to host an invasion of dazzling zebras next July and with businesses quick off the mark to make sure they don’t miss out on all the fun, the public art extravaganza looks set to exceed all expectations.

Today Marwell Zoo is celebrating the signing of its 25th sponsor for their Zany Zebras event – an impressive milestone considering there are still ten months to go before the stampede hits Southampton’s streets and parks.

The latest company to join the “mane” event next summer is Manor Farm Country Park, near Bursledon, and Marwell bosses hope many more will follow their lead to help attract thousands to the county for the ten-week trail.

With so many businesses signing up so quickly hopes are high that Zany Zebras, which is backed by the Daily Echo, will be bigger and better than the zoo’s Go! Rhinos exhibition in 2013.

That trail saw 36 life-sized rhino sculptures, decorated by local artists, set up home throughout the city for ten weeks, boosting visitor numbers to the region.

The auction of the sculptures also raised nearly £125,000 for three different charities.

Kirstie Mathieson, project manager of Zany Zebras, told the Daily Echo: “We are really excited to have secured 25 sponsors already.

“The fact that so many companies that have signed up are returning sponsors from Go! Rhinos is testament to the huge impact the project had on those businesses. In addition, we have had a fantastic response from other businesses and organisations who missed out on the fun of 2013 and couldn’t wait to join the stampede this time.

“Sponsorship works for all shapes and sizes of organisation.from small, family run businesses like Pickwell Farm to international brands such as Southampton Football Club, Cunard and P&O Crusies. Each sponsor brings a new element to Marwell’s Zany Zebras and we are really excited to see this project develop.

“It’s not too late to sign up, the more sponsors we have, the more sculptures there will be and the greater the trail next year.”

This time the zebra was chosen because Marwell has strong links to the grevy zebra, for which it coordinates the international breeding programme for the breed in captivity.

The zebra sculptures will later be auctioned off to raise money for conservation work in northern Kenya.

Councillor Andrew Gibson, executive member for culture and recreation at Hampshire County Council, which runs Manor Farm, added: “The Marwell’s Zany Zebras sculpture trail is a great way to engage people with art and wildlife – and for Manor Farm it will be an excellent way to raise the profile of the Country Park and reach out to potential new customers."

For more information about how to sponsor a Marwell’s Zany zebras, visit the website http://zanyzebras.org.uk/sponsors.