THE city waved goodbye to the hugely popular Martlets snails last month but there is a chance you could own one of them.

The giant molluscs will be auctioned today at the Metropole Hotel in King’s Road, Brighton.

The snails will be auctioned by TV’s Mark Stacey, the Flog It and Bargain Hunt star.

Speaking about the auction, Sally Brighton, from The Martlets hospices said: “We’re delighted to have Mark as our auctioneer for the Snailspace auction and would like to thank him for his support.

“With Mark at the helm we look forward to ‘bidding’ our snails a fond farewell, knowing `the money they raise will make a huge different to our patients and their families.”

Mr Stacey has worked for Bonhams and Sotheby’s and he has more than 20 years’ experience in the antiques world.

Snailspace brought delight to locals and tourists of all ages when they first appeared across Brighton and Hove on September 14.

Thousands posted their photos and selfies on social media.

And many people, including DJ Fatboy Slim, aka Hove’s Norman Cook, challenged themselves to visit all 50 snails in one day.

The Argus ran a poll asking readers to name their favourite snail.

Sparkle Snail at the Dyke Road Cafe in Hove was crowned the most-loved mollusc.

Second place went to To Everything There Is A Season, who was near The Ivy in Ship Street, followed by Felicity, who was near The Pepper Pot in Tower Road. Soraya, in Palmeira Square, finished in forth.

The aim of Snailspace was to remind people to take life more slowly.

The giant molluscs struck a real chord with many – one man even volunteered to clean them after they were defaced by vandals.

Ryan O’Neill, who runs commercial cleaning business O’Neill’s of Brighton, said he wanted to help because as a local company based in Hove, he wanted to “hopefully make a bit more money” for the hospice.

The auction takes place from 7.30pm.