A Norfolk hotel known for its popularity with celebrities is now home to two well-known faces from the cartoon world.

Lord and Lady Tottering, from the famous Tottering-by-Gently cartoons, can now be seen permanently at The Hoste, in Burnham Market.

Cartoonist Annie Tempest, who lives in Stibbard, near Fakenham, has created life-size busts of the eccentric aristocrats for the new Tottering Bar, which was launched on Friday.

Miss Tempest attended the official opening along with her business partner Raymond O'Shea and her father, Henry Tempest, who she describes as 'the original Dicky Tottering'.

The bar is one of many ventures being launched in Norfolk this year to coincide with the 20th anniversary of Tottering-by-Gently featuring in Country Life magazine, including the opening of a new art gallery in Wells next month.

Miss Tempest said: 'I just think the The Hoste fits perfectly with the whole Tottering theme. I could imagine Dicky and Daffy Tottering coming here for a drink and I could get lots of inspiration here for my cartoons.'

In 1997 The Hoste commissioned Miss Tempest to produce an original painting of the bar, which dates back to 1650, featuring Dicky, Daffy and the then owner, the late Paul Whittome, along with some of the locals.

This painting has now been re-hung alongside more than 50 cartoon prints featuring the residents of Tottering Hall.

There are also plans to serve special Tottering-by-Gently drinks in the bar.

Miss Tempest, who started work as a sculptor two years ago, said: 'So many people are now on board with the Totterings, so I thought it would be a great idea to make them three-dimensional and bring them to life.

'This is the first time I have made models of the characters from Tottering-by-Gently and I had no idea how they would turn out.

'I just hope they bring a smile to people's faces because that is what life is all about. I expect people will be asking for a model Mrs Shagpile, but I want to do Slobber the Labrador next.'

Brendan Hopkins, owner of The Hoste, said: 'Many celebrities have visited The Hoste over the years and we are delighted to add two new superstars to the list.

'Lord Nelson stayed in the bedroom above the bar, so Lord and Lady Tottering are the latest in a long line of well-known guests to receive a five-star welcome at The Hoste.'

Miss Tempest's new gallery, to be called The Quayside Gallery, is to be part of the Quayside Court development and is due to open next month.

Miss Tempest said: 'Wells is such an iconic seaside town and with so much going on there at the moment, the town is on the up, and I'm really excited to be opening a gallery there.

'Norfolk really is the home of Tottering-by-Gently, it is where it has all been drawn and written and, with the 20th anniversary, my focus will be on Norfolk this year.'

Do you have a story about an interesting project in your local pub? Email newsdesk@archant.co.uk