Aardman celebrations struck by fire

As Wallace and Gromit top the US box office, fire destroys Aardman Animations' site in Bristol

Oct 10 2005

Wallace and Gromit's triumphant opening in the US this weekend has ended in disaster as a warehouse blaze laid waste to the Aardman Animations' collection in Bristol.

Today's big news should have been of the odd couple's debut feature 'The Curse of the Were-Rabbit' storming into the number one spot at the box office with takings of $16.1 million.

Instead, the Oscar-winning company has awoken to discover that its 'entire history' may have been lost in the inferno, which caused all three floors in the building to collapsing despite the best efforts of fire crews.

Aardman spokesperson Arthur Sheriff said: 'For us, it held everything we had done since day one.'

'Everything from Morph to Creature Comforts to Wallace and Gromit was there – it had all the film sets, the props, the models, everything. It was very important to us. We used it for tours and exhibitions. It's turned out to be a terrible day.'

Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Park added: 'Even though it's precious stuff and nostalgic - and its dreadful news for the company – in the light of other tragedies it's not a big deal.'

Nobody was inside the building at the time the fire broke out and the area has been sealed off with crews expected to stay at the site for the rest of the day.

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