TV STAR and new president of the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust Ellie Harrison has bought the very last Cirencester March Hare model for £1,200 at a special charity dinner earlier this month.

The BBC Countryfile presenter bought the Woolly Jumper hare, decorated by artist Laurie Plant, for £1,200 at the trust’s Song of the Severn dinner in Berkeley Castle on March 14.

The Cirencester March Hare Festival 2014 saw 50 five-foot and 25 life-size colourful hare models dotted around the town to raise money for the wildlife charity.

"A truly wonderful result," said festival organiser, Florence Beetlestone. "I was worried that we wouldn't get a good price for Woolly Jumper but how marvellous that he is now going to such a lovely country home.

"He is half Cotswold Lion sheep and half hare so just right for Ellie who sees so many sheep and hares on Countryfile."

The other 77 models were auctioned off in October last year raising £72,000, which will go towards creating a wild walkway around the River Churn in Cirencester.

The hare festival will be making a grand return this year.