THE first of the Snowdogs are in place after they enjoyed a glitzy VIP launch.

A pack of the giant pooches appeared on the red carpet in front of crowds at the launch night on Wednesday at Brighton Marina.

Among the guests there to greet them were superstar DJ Fatboy Slim and bestselling crime author Peter James.

Forty three of the dogs will take their place in Brighton and Hove over the next 24 hours while the last remaining pooch was taken to the capital yesterday.

Brighton Belle, as she is called, is now ready to greet guests on the concourse at London Victoria near platform 15.

Artist Jenny Leonard's design celebrates Brighton and Hove's iconic architecture, including its newest attraction the i360 - which has sponsored the model.

The Snowdog was named in honour of one of the world's best known trains, the famous Pullman electric engine from London to Brighton which operated between 1933 and 1972.

She will remain there until November 27 before being reunited with the rest of her pack for an auction in Brighton to raise money for The Martlets hospice.

You can be entered into a competition to win tickets for the attraction by taking a selfie with Brighton Belle and tweeting it to @BA_i360 or using the hashtag #helloBrightonBelle on Twitter or Instagram.

As dusk fell last volunteers crept out to carry the rest of the 40kg, 1.5 metre tall sculptures to their positions across the city ready for the public launch tomorrow.

They included Boomer, a Snowdog designed by artist RYCA and sponsored by DJ Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim.

He met his pooch for the first time at the launch and is taking him home to sit outside his Big Beach Cafe in Hove Lagoon.

Dubbed the coolest Snowdog of the trail, he has a gold chain around his neck, Ray Ban style glasses and carries a boom box on its back.

He is also the only one to play music out of hi-tech speakers embedded in his legs.

Norman said: "RYCA is a mate of mine and he's done a brilliant job. We weren't quite sure it would come together but it has and I love it. It looks fantastic.

"The speakers will be linked by wireless to the music playing in the café.

"When it's good weather he will be outside and when it rains he will come in.

"When he comes to be auctioned off it really will be a unique home sound system for someone to own."

The Argus is the official media partner for the Wild in Art project.

Your ultimate guide to the Snowdogs by the Sea trail

DON’T miss our special Snowdogs by the Sea supplement tomorrow. 
It is your ultimate guide to how to take part in the charity arts trail featuring all the information you need, including a map, quiz, facts, an introduction to all the sculptures and the stories behind some of them. 
Visit The Argus stand at Brighton Station from 9am to 12.30pm tomorrow to pick up your copy, get your hands on a special Snowdog trail survival kit goody bag and meet our Snowdog correspondent Flora Thompson.
From every sale at The Argus stand in the station, 20p will be donated to The Martlets hospice in Hove.