THEY say pigs might fly - but this life-size toy giraffe had shoppers craning their necks today as it was hoisted into a store in Manchester.

The 18ft Christmas present to beat all presents was winched onto the roof of the House of Fraser by a team of ten men.

It has now taken pride of place in the new Hamleys store on the sixth floor.

The one-hour long operation saw the 21-stone creation - named Jeremy and who carries a price tag of £3,300 - hoisted on to the roof, then lowered onto a sixth floor ledge and through a set of fire doors. It arrived to a round of applause by Hamleys staff.

The colossal Christmas gift, custom-made in the Far East, is one of only two in the world. Jeremy's twin, Jeffrey, is at Hamleys' London store.

House of Fraser general manager Jeff Johnson said: "It's great that he's already brought so much entertainment and smiles to people's faces."

Kevin Halliwell, of Speedy Lifting which carried out the operation, said: "I'm just wondering how soon we'll have to bring it down for the customer who buys it."
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