There are pigs of all sorts, including a wizard pig, a jelly bean pig, a sporty pig and a flower pig.

For visitors to two open days at Fired Up Ceramics in Pucklechurch, on the outskirts of Bristol, the pigs will be something they have to search for in an unusual treasure hunt.

However, for the people who have made them, these colourful ceramic creatures represent treasure of a different sort.

The pigs are the creations of people with learning disabilities who attend the ceramics studio employment training unit run by the charity the Brandon Trust.

And they have discovered invaluable knowledge and skills as a result of a scheme to provide them with abilities useful for future employment – which has included making the pigs.

Unit manager Karen Bateman says: "We use ceramics as a way of helping people who come here to gain skills, such as being able to work as part of a team, time-keeping, customer awareness, and knowledge of retail."

The ceramics project featuring what have been named the Pucklechurch Pigs, is based on King Bladud's Bath Pigs. These were life-sized pigs which were decorated in different styles and placed around the city of Bath last summer to celebrate the discovery of Bath's hot springs by King Bladud and his pigs.

"We were delighted by the creative ideas that people came up with, often based upon their own interests," says Karen.

"Everyone came up with an idea of what they wanted their pig to be, and then designed and painted it."

Nick Look, 27, of Yate, South Gloucestershire, made a James Bond pig, with the numbers 007 and a gun decorating its sides.

"I'm a big James Bond fan, and have been for some time. I like all the actors who have played James Bond – and I like the Bond girls!" he says.

"I only started coming here recently, and this pig is one of the first things I've made. Before that I made a cereal bowl.

"They are really teaching me things here, and I'd like to continue and be some kind of artist."

Becky Fry, 27, who also lives in Yate, decorated her pig with designs of playing cards and called it Casino Pig.

"I made Casino Pig because I like to gamble!" she declares.

Then she adds: "Only joking! I went to a casino once though, and I did enjoy it. I also enjoy shopping."

Other ceramic porcine creations include Hamburger Pig, which is decorated with a hamburger, lettuce and tomato, and Lizard Pig which has green scaly skin like that of a lizard.

The names of all 17 pigs made by the adults with learning disabilities who attend Fired Up Ceramics will be on a sheet of paper given to visitors who attend the open days.

Those who wish to take part in the Pucklechurch Pigs Treasure Hunt will be able to tick them off as they find them around the studio, and there will be a small treat for those who find all of them.

Visitors will also be able to vote for their favourite pig, and will be able to reserve one if they want to buy it. Most pigs are priced at £21.

There will also be opportunities for visitors to paint a pig of their own, and to have a cream tea.

Fired Up Ceramics has been run in the Bristol area by the Brandon Trust for more than a decade, and the studio had been based in Puicklechurch for about three years.

"We usually have about 10 people in a day, and they attend for about two years depending on their needs," says Karen.

"When we feel they have learned all they can here, Brandon Trust will try to help them to get employment.

"We aren't necessarily going to be able to get them a job in a ceramics studio, but we're giving them transferable skills that they can use in all sorts of workplaces and are also helping to build their confidence."

The two open days during which the Pucklechurch Pigs treasure hunts will take place are part of the programme aimed at developing the skills of those who attend the studio.

"Everyone who has taken part in the project is really excited about showing off their talents to visitors, and telling them about the work they do here," says Karen.

"It's a great opportunity for them to develop their retail skills.

"We also hope it will be a way of promoting the many other services we offer here, such as holding children's parties and doing workshops and with local organisations such as Brownies, social clubs and schools.

"We've been in Pucklechurch for more than three years and have taken part in events like the Pucklechurch Revel and try to be part of the local community, but still get so many people saying to us that they had no idea that we were here!"

● Pucklechurch Pigs treasure hunts will take place at the Fired Up Ceramics open days on Wednesday, September 2, and Saturday, September 5, and they will be held between 10.30am and 2.30pm. Fired Up Ceramics is at Unit 1, Beaufort Trade Park, Pucklechurch Trading Estate, Pucklechurch, near Bristol, BS16 9QH. Tel: 0117 937 4367.