A Wallace and Gromit bench, a statue dedicated to Star Wars actor Kenny Baker and an artwork to Wild West outlaw Butch Cassidy, who had Preston roots, are just some of the ideas being considered.

Design experts at the University of Central Lancashire have plotted the route of a city centre art trail which they hope will become a visitor attraction and help to boost tourism.

Other ideas include a giant chandelier in Winckley Street, where gas street lights were first used outside London; putting images of Preston comic strip artist Leo Baxendale's Bash Street Kids on paving stones; and having a group of bronze statues, semi-submerged into the River Ribble, to mark the place where the first British Mormon converts were baptised.

See a slideshow of artist's impressions of the project.

Bryn Jones, project leader, said: "It's heritage with a difference. It would be historical, contemporary and slightly quirky in some cases."

City council leader Ken Hudson said: "Not only is it interesting to young and old alike, it also uses history to assist the health of the city.

"And we are looking very, very carefully at student retention. We are very, very keen to retain this vast pool of knowledge that is coming out of the university once they graduate."

>> Art of the community with a green message

>> Call for 'gateway' art competition

>> Vote in our latest web poll