TAUNTON Toad Trail is up and running after a spectacular launch event yesterday (Saturday).

Hundreds of people watched as the summer-long initiative was kicked started in the town's Orchard Shopping Centre.

A total of 22 fibreglass toads have been dotted around the town and surrounding area.

And in a fun challenge, families and individuals are being asked to track down all of them.

You'll get the help of a trail map - available for £1 at Taunton Information Centre and Hatchers.

The designs of the toads are based on the winning entries to a competition run earlier this year in your County Gazette in conjunction with the organising committee.

The Mayor of Taunton, Cllr Fran Smith, did the honours at the launch, which was also attended by Mrs Somerset, Dionne John.

Children were able to help paint one of the toads, Lippy Toad, with the help of Go Create, while others created their own toad badges and took away toad moulds to paint.

There were performances from The Pauline Quirke Academy and Limelight Theatre.

Taunton Toad Trail continues until 13 September and is sure to attract plenty of visitors to the town, boosting the local economy in the process.

The trail will raise funds for the League of Friends, which is 60 years old this year and funds equipment at Musgrove Park Hospital.

The charity is supporting improvements to the Bracken Birthing Centre and funding a new birthing pool, as well as improved facilities at the hospital.

The trail committee is chaired by Peter Renshaw, who is also chairman of the League of Friends.