The company behind the successful Wallace and Gromit films said today that its "entire history" was destroyed in a devastating fire at a warehouse containing all its theatrical props.
The roof of the Aardman Animations building in Silverthorne Lane, near Temple Meads station in Bristol, collapsed after the blaze tore through the Victorian building early today.
Wallace and Gromit
A spokesman for Aardman said the building housed all the props and sets from the company's history, from Morph through to Wallace and Gromit films.
Aardman spokesman Arthur Sheriff said: "Today was supposed to be a day of celebration, with the news that Wallace and Gromit had gone in at number one at the US box office but instead our whole history has been wiped out.
"The early reports are that the whole building has been destroyed.
"For us, it held everything we had done since day one. Everything from Morph to Creature Comfortsto 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 really is a bit of tragedy. It's turned out to be a terrible day."
Crews from across the region were called in to tackle the blaze, which at its height saw flames reaching 100 feet.
Nobody was in the building when the fire broke out. The area has been sealed off and crews are expected to remain at the scene for the rest of the day.
PA