Victoria LeggettNearly 18 months ago, 53 eccentrically embellished elephants stomped their way through Norwich. Last spring, 50 highly-decorated hippos were herded into North Walsham. And next year 70 giant lobsters and crabs will be descending on North Norfolk.Victoria Leggett

Nearly 18 months ago, 53 eccentrically embellished elephants stomped their way through Norwich.

Last spring, 50 highly-decorated hippos were herded into North Walsham.

But next year, they are both set to be outnumbered by Cromer and Sheringham's colourful crabs and lurid lobsters, after organisers of the towns' Crustacea Crawl revealed 70 had been snapped up by sponsors.

The trail of giant creatures will take over the north Norfolk coast at Easter for seven weeks leading up to the first Cromer and Sheringham Crab and Lobster Festival.

Organisers say they were delighted with the response, which will mean the sculptures outnumber those of previous trails in the county.

John Morgan, one of the organisers, said: 'There are more of them, and of course we're pleased, but the point was to get as many people involved as possible. It's really nice to see the way people have come together.'

Although the trail will focus on Sheringham and Cromer - which will host the subsequent three-day festival from May 21 to 23 - the sculptures will be scattered as far afield as Fakenham and Paston, near North Walsham.

A total of 70 have been sponsored - 31 lobsters and 39 crabs - and organisers were set to put in an order worth about �18,000 to suppliers this week.

Of those, 44 will be 3ft models and there will be 18 6ft lobsters and eight large crabs wondering through the county.

Each sponsor will arrange for their crustacean to be decorated and they will be auctioned off for charity.

Mr Morgan said: 'We're hearing some fantastic ideas. There's a 6ft crab that's going to be climbing the Beeston Bump and apparently there's going to be a crab in a net at the RNLI station on Cromer pier.'

Sponsors include the Wellington pub in Cromer, the Banningham Crown pub, near Aylsham, and the Henry Blogg museum in Cromer, which will enlist the help of the town's sea scouts to decorate their model.