The life-sized artworks formed part of a collection of 260 model elephants taking over the English capital this summer for the London Elephant Parade 2010.

Julien Macdonald, Alice Temperley, Diane von Furstenberg, Lulu Guinness, Marc Quinn and John Rocha are also among those who have taken part in the initiative, raising awareness of the plight of Asian elephants. Among the works marching on Trafalgar Square today was Williamson's elephant made up of a glittery rainbow of colours, and Hilfiger's artwork painted bold red and sporting a mohican of foliage across its head.

An elephant by Paul Smith was fashionably attired in pastel shades and signed by the designer on its knee.

The highly collectable artworks will pop up at a host of London landmarks including Buckingham Palace, Parliament Square and the South Bank over the next few months, before being auctioned off to raise £2 million for charity.

The money will help The Elephant Family charity and more than 15 UK conservation charities working in Asia.

Jewellery designer Sabine Roemer dressed her elephant with a 700-carat emerald on its forehead.

She said it was ''amazing'' to see her completed work in Trafalgar Square.

''We started talking about it a year ago,'' she said. ''I wanted to have a very traditional Indian-looking elephant and to make a jewellery piece.''

Artist Sacha Jafri stood next to his gold elephant emblazoned with hearts.

''I had the birth of my little baby during all of this so it has these heart motifs,'' he said.

Jafri felt inspired by the power of elephants to make him feel ''grounded'' and ''earthed''.

He said the initiative celebrated ''the spiritual link between elephant and man''.

Jafri has also been commissioned to create an elephant inspired by Disney musical The Lion King, which has seen him work hundreds of hours over ''four weeks solid''.

He added: ''I was really chuffed with the result.''

Tourists walked among the elephants, flocking to hug and have their pictures taken with them.

It was a beautiful day in London today, so earlier this evening I went out for a ride on my bike along the river. Just past the Houses of Parliament, I came across three of the elephants. You can buy them if you want. Here are somne pics that I took: