AROUND 80 regulars at The Three Crowns in Chippenham are to don sheep costumes to recreate an historic photo of the pub.

The black and white photo shows a shepherd and his dog with a flock of sheep in front of the pub on The Causeway. It is on the cover of a 2010 book by Andrew Swift and Kirsten Elliott, called Inns of Wiltshire: in old photographs.

The recreation, dubbed the flash flock, was the idea of Abi Newton, 43, who has been frequenting the Three Crowns for about four years.

Miss Newton, a business analyst who lives in Cepen Park South, said: “We were having a pint, the book was on the shelf and we thought, wouldn’t it be funny if we tried to recreate that with some of the locals? And people said, that sounds like a good wheeze.

“I suggested locals stood outside the pub, some people said why not get dressed up as sheep and go on all fours.

“It’s a really nice community feel pub, everyone is friends, so we thought it would be a good laugh."

Seventy people have already signed up, and their donations to take part will go towards four charities supported by the pub.

Landlord Steve Jenner will take the part of the shepherd. The same photo adorns the wall in the pub's back room, and was there when he bought the freehold five years ago. He did not know how old it was.

Miss Newton would also like to get a photograph with real sheep in and is keen to hear from anyone who would be able to lend them a flock for the morning.

Anyone able to help or wanting to get involved in the flash flock, scheduled for 10am on Sunday May 10, can email Abigail.newton@virgin.net

The Three Crowns also takes part in the Olympiad’s beer festival, which this year is on April 24 and 25.