The Chester Chronicle is announced as the media partner of Rhino Mania.

We have teamed up with Chester Renaissance and Wild in Art in a stunning city initiative for 2010.

Rhino Mania, from July to September, is one of the biggest public art initiatives to take place in Chester in more than a century and one of the biggest open-air education projects to take place in the UK this year.

The Chronicle will have its own rhino, part of the 70 designed fibreglass animals that will soon be on view across Chester.

Next week The Chronicle will announce a competition for Cheshire West and Chester schools to name and design our Chronicle rhino and there will be prizes on offer for winners.

During the coming weeks we will reveal how you can take part in Rhino Mania, with some excellent prizes ready to be won.

The highlight of Rhino Mania will be the rhino trail. More than 200,000 free trail leaflets will allow huge numbers of Cestrians, visitors and tourists to follow and identify the rhinos.

Rita Waters, chief executive of Chester Renaissance, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have The Chester Chronicle on board.

“Rhino Mania is the largest public art installation that this city will have seen in the last 100 years.

“It also has an educational element running alongside it where we are working with schools. There are already 105 schools across Chester borough involved in the programme sponsored by Bank Of America. Each primary school has received a miniature rhino. They also receive an education pack which has been endorsed by the Cheshire West and Chester education authority and Chester Zoo and Wild in Art.

“It is a cross-curricular activity and raises serious thought-provoking issues about conservation, team work and climate change.

Similar Street Art projects in Manchester [Cow Parade] and Liverpool [Superlambanana] have been an economic success story.

Mrs Waters said: “We are expecting hundreds of thousands of people to visit our streets and take part in the 70-rhino trail

“We know from previous events that there is a significant increase in footfall.

“Because of Rhino Mania people will travel to Chester spend money in the shops of Chester, eat and drink in our bars and restaurants and visit other attractions, so we know it will have a significant economic impact in our city.”

Chester Chronicle executive editor Michael Green said: “Rhino Mania is extremely important to Chester. We know the business community, public and voluntary sectors are getting behind Rhino Mania and this is part of the arts and cultural extravaganza Chestival.

“Rhino Mania is perfect for people to get involved in the cultural scene of the city in a practical and innovative way.”