NINE children will soon be able to see their very own gargoyles on one of Oxford’s most famous buildings.

They were the winners of a competition to design a gargoyle worthy of a place on the Bodleian Library to look down on the city for centuries to come.

More than 500 children entered the competition.

The nine gargoyles are due to be lifted on to the north-west face of the library, facing Convocation House and the Sheldonian Theatre, next week.

They are themed on myths, monsters and people who have a historical connection with Oxfordshire, and include Tweedledum and Tweedledee by 14-year-old Eva Masmanian, and Three Men in a Boat, by 13-year-old Henry Chadwick, both from Oxford.

Abingdon youngsters Hayley Williams and Alex Sermon ensured writers were well represented.

Hayley produced a gargoyle of Aslan the Lion, from CS Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, while Alex came up with a gargoyle of the author JRR Tolkien.

Pictured are George O’Connor, 13, from Summertown who suggested a dodo design and Hannah Duckworth, 13, a pupil at Headington School. She said: “I went for a green man, because the University Parks and Botanic Garden are such an important part of Oxford.”

The new gargoyles will be officially unveiled on September 12. The contest was organised by Oxford University and the Oxford Preservation Trust.