Dinosaurs and elephants aren’t what you usually expect to find when you head into town.

But that’s exactly what you’ll find in Maidstone after an art trail was launched yesterday.

Hundreds of parents and children lined the streets to watch the launch of the new Magical Beasts sculpture trail.

It features six pieces of artwork including two baby Iguanodon dinosaurs, two cheeky gremlin characters and two baby elephants.

The sculptures were designed and created by father and son artists Gary and Thomas Thrussell, who also made the Iguanodon sculpture at Maidstone East railway station.

The trail begins in Brenchley Gardens and continues along the riverside to the Archbishops’ Palace and on to the Lockmeadow Entertainment Complex.

Each sculpture has a QR code with information about the different aspects of Maidstone’s heritage.

The trail also features on a new app, Maidstone Trails, which guides users around historic sites and landmarks in the town.

The project received funding from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

At the launch families met the dinosaurs in the town centre in the morning. In the afternoon, they took part in interactive sessions including a lesson in how to train your dinosaur.

Mayor of Maidstone Cllr Gordon Newton, who unveiled the sculptures, said: “I was absolutely delighted to be asked to officially launch this exciting new Magical Beast trail.

“Maidstone is steeped in history and these brilliant pieces of artwork help bring so many different stories to life.

“This is a great initiative by Maidstone Borough Council and as a permanent art trail these little creatures are going to be able to share stories about the County Town for many years to come.”