THIS life-sized rhino has been brought to life thanks to a team of Hampshire students who spent 63 hours to finish the makeover.

Four talented students from Richard Taunton Sixth Form College in Southampton dedicated their free time during half-term to paint Wessex Heartbeat’s Go! Rhinos sculpture, called Mrs Hearty.

It is all part of the college’s support of the charity’s HIGH 5 Appeal, which aims to raise £500,000 to build a specialist unit at Southampton General Hospital for young people with heart conditions.

The intricate and colourful design was developed by artists Mehnaz Rahman and Mary Eyon, along with photographer Emmanuel Owusu-Afram and graphic designer Ryan Young.

Now the rhino is ready to join the Go! Rhinos trail, which will see rhinos popping up across Southampton as part of the Marwell Zoo’s public art extravaganza, which starts in July.

Mehnaz said: “I’m really sad we’ve finished the painting.

“We’ve all loved doing Mrs Hearty and it was a great challenge. The whole thing has been made more special because we know what we’ve achieved will help young people with heart conditions.”