Charity mug released immortalising Preston's inanimate objects - including the infamous Fishergate Bollard

Leyland business Ad-Options Ltd, through its operating name BusinessGiftUK based in Bamber Bridge, has joined up with the ‘Magnificant Seven’ – the Preston Phonebox, Losktock Hall Henge, Leyland Tank, Penwortham Pylon, Preston Dock Bridge, Preston Market Thermometer, and the bollard – to put together the charitable mug.

Managing director and founder Steve Ward said 100 have currently been produced and there is scope for more if demand is there.

Steve, who founded the business with his wife Ann, said: “We are active on Twitter and we saw the image of the ‘Magnificant Seven’ that was made, so we got together and decided we could do a mug and raise money for charity at the same time.”

Steve said that he had a little bit of an added interested through the Preston Phonebox, with a lot of Ad-Options Ltd's business from its inception in 1985 until 2000 surrounding fitting adverts in Lancashire's phone boxes.

All proceeds from the mugs, which are £3 or two for £5, are going to Rosemere Cancer Foundation and Galloway’s Society for the Blind.

Emma Russ, fundraising and communication manager at Galloway’s, said: “We’ve been watching the rise of Preston’s inanimate objects for a while now and they have quickly become great talking points for the City, their light-hearted banter has left us very amused on many occasions.

"The magnificent seven artwork was a stroke a genius and one we’re delighted to be involved with.

"While the mugs are made with lighthearted humour in mind, they’ve really taken off and the proceeds generated from them will help us make a big difference to local blind and partially sighted people – it’s really wonderful to be involved in something so different that the entire community has got behind.

"If you haven’t snapped one up yet – please do!”

Dan Hill, head of fund-raising at Rosemere, said: “We think this is an inspired initiative. It’s a great idea and we are obviously delighted to have been chosen as one of the recipient charities.”

Steve added: "The charities have both been clients of ours and we actively support them and other charities in what they do to help others."

The bollard speaks

The Fishergate Bollard has been in the news for its exploits - and even has its own Twitter page.

Speaking exclusively to the Post, the bollard said of the newly created mugs: “For someone who enjoys more holidays than Santa – the current one having nothing to do with the World Cup – it’s more important than ever to stay in the public eye.

“And what better way than to adorn a kitchen, work desk or building site than these remarkable earthenware collectibles?

Just don’t drink and drive, for my sake.”

• To buy a mug contact the inanimate object Twitter profiles or BusinessGiftUK on 01772 429111.