TWO little piggies are going to market to help support a hospital arts project.

The two remaining wooden pigs originally used as seating in Taunton’s former Old Market Centre, now renamed the Orchard shopping centre, are being sold off individually.

They will go to the highest bidder at the Art on the Block auction at Musgrove Park Hospital on Tuesday, May 20.

The Taunton Two were removed several years ago, then brought out of storage in 2012 and re-imaged as Pigsaw and the Polden Pig by local artists Natalie Parsley and Michael Fairfax to help raise funds for the Brewhouse theatre.

But halfway through their tour of public spaces in the town, the theatre closed – although it has since re-opened – and the porkers went back into storage.

They will be joined by more than 80 pieces of artwork and sculpture by local and national artists in the auction, raising money to improve the experience for patients, staff and visitors at Musgrove.

Orchard’s marketing and events co-ordinator Marika Sterry said: “I am thrilled the pigs have finally been sent to auction for the arts in our local community.

“Our thanks go to Natalie and Michael who have worked so hard on this project from the start. Let’s hope the pigs raise lots of money before finding their happy resting place.”