Preston could become the permanent home of Wallace and Gromit with a life size statue of the Oscar® winning pair in the city.

Swapping plasticine for bronze, Wallace and Gromit creator and Honorary Freeman of Preston, Nick Park, is currently working on statue designs for the city – which subject to funding being agreed could be located in Preston by the end of 2008.

Commenting on such a statue, Nick Park said:
"This is a really exciting project and I'm delighted to be working on the designs for a Wallace and Gromit statue in Preston. As a Prestonian myself it would be a wonderful honour to have a statue to Wallace and Gromit in my home city."

The statue was also welcomed by Councillor Ken Hudson, Leader of the Council and Chair of the City Centre Committee who said:
"We’ve seen how such statues and public art can create an excitement and boost for an area with for example the Sir Tom Finney splash statue at Preston North End and the Eric Morecambe statue in Morecambe. We think a Wallace and Gromit statue could have a similar effect and we will be working hard to secure the £100,000 funding for it. The statue is being personally designed by Nick Park so hopefully there will be a lot of interest in it and we can get private sponsorship to help with the overall costs."

Bryn Jones from City Brand – a part of Preston’s University of Central Lancashire that’s been working on developing innovative and creative projects for Preston added:
"The Wallace and Gromit statue as part of a city centre "walk around museum" is one of the most important and exciting projects we’ve been working on. It would be a tremendous boost for the city and with its friendly and welcoming intention, a wonderful way of improving an important gateway into the city. Wallace and Gromit are famous all over the world so we would be very proud if the first ever statue to the Oscar® winners was to be located right here in Preston."

The City Council and Aardman are jointly contributing to the design stage but the Wallace and Gromit statue has already received a boost with news that the Preston Tithebarn Partnership, the joint venture between Grosvenor and Lend Lease which is developing the Tithebarn project in Preston City Centre, are to put £20,000 into the statue.
Anthony Gill, speaking on behalf of the Preston Tithebarn Partnership, said:
"Wallace and Gromit have universal appeal and a unique connection with Preston. This statue would be a wonderful addition to the city and will become an attraction in its own right."

Fun Facts:

∙ Nick Park was born in Preston in 1958
∙ He grew up in Walmer Bridge and attended St Oswald's Primary School and Cuthbert Mayne High School (now Our Lady's Catholic High School)
∙ He was made an Honorary Freeman of Preston in October 1997

oh yes yes yes fantasic news! " Come On Lad Get That Statue-O-Matic Wired Up"

Congratulations Nick!

That amazing news!!!! Well Done Nick!

Well done, Nick. This terrific pair of characters seem only fitting to finally come home. Can't wait for their next adventure!

All the best.

Great news well done Nick!!!!!!!!

you have to hand it to nick park
well done
no wonder wallace is smiling
and so am i

great news javascript:ins('')
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http://www.lep.co.uk/news/39Wallace-and-Gromit-statue-could.3186170.jp

I don't think they should put it in a train station, it wouldnt be the same.

it might get grafited and that would never do!

Go nick! Go nick! Go nick! Who agrees with me people?

I agree with you antipresto, teenagers will just vandalise on it and then it wil get ruined!

Yerh thats great news were in preston is it going ??

I will defo visit the statue when its put up because my mums side of the family are from preston and I love the city because everybody is so friendly when I go and visit and its only a short car / train ride to blackpool, I am a proper northen girl at heart

It will make Preston like Lourdes for W&G fans!

OI! wats so bad about london

I thought it would have been a giant plasticine statue

yeah, but it would have to have a super strong armature in though, eh jillis?!

hehe, if it were indoors a plasticine statue would be great - visitors could create their own pose and have their picture taken with W&G!

Yeah! Great idea! And 1 other thing. The halloween things from the shaun site don't work. Look: :hw_candy_lolly:

hi funkycheese, we're looking at transferring the halloween smilies over in the next few days, so hopefully they will work soon.

Oh! There they are! I'll try:

IT WORKS!!!!!

anymore news?

will nick park be cutting the ribbon to the statue

I knew the boys wouldn't let us down!

nice!

aww prestons far away cat we hav 1 in london too!

It is brill to hear about the statue, wish I could get to England sooner. Being in Canada means a longish plane ride.
Well, I'll just have to keep an eye on the website and find out when the W&G statue is going up.
Does anyone know where to get a DVD of the Were-Rabbit?
Is there somewhere in Canada? I would like to get it and enjoy it like I do the other films. Well, tara for now. Jenn.

I Wonder What The Statue Will look like?

When will the statue be unveiled to the public? Will it be live on TV? I wish it was so that all W&G fans can see it being unveiled! It says 2008 at the top but it is half way through 2009 already! How much longer do we have to wait?

cool have a have a look