DRAGON fans can capture their own fiery beast when 21 of the Taunton Deane Dragon Trail dragons are auctioned off on October 12.

To raise money for the Mayor’s charity, most of the decorated dragons are going under the hammer at The Queen’s Hall, Queen’s College, Taunton – and would-be bidders can now make sure of their ticket for the event by registering on-line.

Taunton Deane Mayor Dave Durdan, who leads the Dragon Trail project, said: “I’d encourage bidders to make the most of this opportunity to walk away with a piece of history.

“Owning a dragon would be a unique trophy that could become your company’s talisman or a perhaps a garden resident that would wow your visitors and family for years to come.

“All the money raised will be going to good causes.”

Wielding the hammer is Claire Rawle, of Somerset auctioneers Tamlyns. An experienced auctioneer and collectables expert, Claire is a well known face from a number of TV programmes, including Flog It.

Claire said: “I’m looking forward to raising as much money as possible for the Mayor’s charity at the Great Dragon Auction.

“The dragons will certainly be among the more unusual items I have ever sold – they have really been taken to people’s hearts over the summer so we’re hoping to realise some fantastic prices for these fantastic creatures.”

The trail Dragons being auctioned are: Rainbow, Shifter, Swirly, Somerset Dragon, Windy, Chameleon, Aqua Dragonus, Daisy Chain Making at Vivary, Inclusion, Tauntonsaurus Rex, Sir Salix (a wicker dragon), The Circus Comes to Town, Wicket, Sandy MacDivot, Camo, Steamer, Defendamus, Accident Pronus, Orchard Scrumper, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Night Dragon.

To see a gallery of pictures of the dragons for auction, click here.

To view images of the dragons, click on www.deanedragons.co.uk and to register for your free ticket to the Great Auction, click on https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-great-dragon-auction-deane-dragon-trail-registration-12914785471.

Most of the 460 seats in the Queen’s Hall will be allocated by ticket in advance, but a small number will be available on the night.

Doors open on the night at 6pm for a 7.30pm start – and refreshments will be available. A limited edition auction catalogue will be on sale on the night for just £5.

Nearly all of the 31 trail dragons will be on display at Queen’s College between 9am and 6pm from September 29 to October 11 as part of the Quartz Arts Festival held annually at the college in Taunton.

The other ten dragons that were on the trail are being retained by their sponsors.

Somerset Community Foundation will be helping to administrate money raised from the project, which will be distributed to community projects in Taunton Deane.

The raffle draw for dragon Roary will also be held on the Great Dragon Auction night – tickets are still on sale at Taunton Tourist Information Centre.

Somerset County Gazette:

Roary, who is being auctioned. PHOTO: Pink Apple Studios.