IT became clear — Derby Unite Community needed a new campaign and recruitment tool. Leaflets and an A-board weren’t enough.

Our community co-ordinator Dave Condliffe exclaimed rather excitedly: “I can get a rat.”

Now we’re not talking “tastes like chicken but with fewer wings.” No, an eight-foot inflatable rat.

We stood out and attracted a bit of interest. He became our branch mascot, with his effigy on flyers and missives. Then came the devastating news, we can’t play with Ratty again — he’s confined to barracks. Don’t even say his name out loud, he’s off limits.

We needed a new rat. I say rat, he was good, but we needed something amazing. I saw an opportunity for something less rat-like and more, well, cuddly.

It was sort of agreed by the branch to get a lion. Dave coined the name “Paws.” Even before we’d got him, the puns and corny strap lines followed relentlessly — “Paws roars against injustice.” Oh, the pain.

I got a few quotes — we’d need a couple of thousand quid. At only 5p, drawing a face on a carrier bag was the alternative.

We were dead in the water, at two grand.

Keen auction fiend and bargain-hunter that I am, I eventually found a 12-foot inflatable lion. Rob Harries was selling up. He’s the guy who made all the big air sculptures — Pink Floyd’s pig and countless others.

I did the research. It came with all the essentials for any would-be lion tamer on a budget.

With no access to funds for a bidder’s deposit, I conned Dave into it. We’d hoped to get it for £500 including fees, or that’s what I told Dave — twice that and it was a bargain. As luck would have it though, 60 quid later and I was arranging a courier which cost almost as much again.

Being an engineer and spatially aware I’d prepared an area large enough for the maiden flight outside my house.

I don’t know about you, but ordinarily one doesn’t get to see a 12-foot lion sitting next to the main road into town. After a few distracted motorists swerved past the drive, I pulled the plug out and tried to get the cat back into the bag.

Next day he’s blown up outside the East Midlands regional office for the Unite Community regional forum — that’s when I realised, we won’t miss Ratty.

Not many people are going to miss Paws either, two parking spaces and up to the second-floor windows means he attracts lots of attention.

Our first official outing was a “you busy tomorrow?” sort of affair. “Chesterfield, Sports Direct’s accountant’s in court.” We’ve been campaigning against Sports Direct for its reliance on zero-hours contracts.

I won’t go into detail, but we scared him off, he was a no-show. Paws 1, Sports Direct 0 — not bad for a first outing.

Then we took Paws to a demo in Huddersfield campaigning against library closures in Kirklees. So many people worked on the campaign, true activists of all ages, it brings a lump to your throat. Libraries are an important part of any community, yet they’ve cut funding.

We’re back there on November 7 to highlight the plight of refugees and collect donations. These are the people who for centuries have made this country great, bringing innovation and diversity with them. They didn’t bring a 12-foot lion, though — I do that.

A young lady asked where we hired Paws from. She was stunned when I told her I bought him in an auction, so Paws got another gig.

November 11, after paying our respects, we’ll drive up to Sports Direct HQ in Shirebrook. We’ll take our event to founder Mike Ashley himself. Tea and biscuits for the workforce with a 12-foot lion. We’re involving several branches — it’s what we do for worthwhile causes.

Dave’s trying to get a Paws clone for each region. I think it’s worth it. The Derby branch has started something big — not bad for volunteers, I’d say.

When he’s out on manoeuvres, children flock to us, they bring their parents. Those parents are potential members. At the very least it raises the profile of Unite and Unite Community.

Jim Griffiths is branch secretary of Derby Unite Community.

Find us on Twitter, @paws­4unite or pawsunitelion@gmail. We’re always looking for an event to crash, get in touch and we’ll see what we can do. Just like black socks or brown sauce ... surprisingly a 12-foot inflatable lion goes with anything.