Well, it's actually Gromit – but not the famous animated dog, rather a specially-designed bus with the same name created to honour Preston's award-winning animator Nick Park.

TV legend Peter Sallis, who plays the voice of inventor Wallace, was on hand to launch the new bus, set to serve five city routes, at Mr Park's old school St Cuthbert Mayne – now Our Lady's High School in St Anthony's Drive, Fulwood.

And he also gave the Evening Post a brief insight into Wallace and Gromit's new film A Matter of Loaf and Death, set to reach our TV screens later in the year. There will be love in the air for the cheese-loving Wallace.

The 87-year-old said of his character: "He's a got a love interest now –a lady played by Sally Lindsay. There's a love-hate relationship between him and her but I'd better not tell you too much about it."

Mr Sallis, also well known for playing Norman Clegg in long-running BBC sitcom Last of the Summer Wine, said of Mr Park: "We all know that the guy is a genius and his masterpiece is Creature Comforts – it's his Citizen Kane.

"It's lucky to be gifted and nice – which is what he is.

"The bus is marvellous now that I've actually seen it. It's a great idea. Of course, Nick will like it – he will love it."

The actor also presented a goodie bag to 14-year-old Our Lady's schoolgirl Sally Woodhouse for designing new character Brian the Bus Driver – set to be added to the design.

Mr Park, who could not make the ceremony, picked out the design for its "unusual shape" and "great originality".

Rob Jones, operations manager of Stagecoach in Preston, said: "We felt we should do something to honour Nick Park. We have always been fans of Wallace and Gromit. Hopefully it will encourage more young people to travel around by bus in Preston."

The decorated Optare bus was set to go into service on Tuesday, featuring on route numbers 9, 11, 19, 22 and 33.

Our Lady's High School head of art Vicky Booth said: "This is a huge opportunity for the lucky pupil to see her work alongside some of the most famous animated characters in the world."