Wallace and Gromit get UK launch

Actor Peter Sallis (centre) was greeted by Wallace and Gromit

Celebrities have gathered in London for the British premiere of the Wallace and Gromit film, Curse of the Were-Rabbit.

A giant inflatable Gromit towered over Ralph Fiennes, Peter Sallis and John Thomson as they arrived at the event at the Odeon cinema in Leicester Square.

They were joined by Nick Park and Steve Box, the film's directors, and Jeffrey Katzenberg, whose Dreamworks studio financed the $30m (£17m) feature.

Charity screenings have also been held in Bristol and Manchester.

Proceeds will go to Wallace and Gromit's Children's Foundation, which aims to improve the quality of life for children in British hospitals and hospices.

'Lovely man'

The film marks Wallace and Gromit's first big-screen outing after the acclaimed shorts A Grand Day Out, The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave.

Nick Park, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Ralph Fiennes were also present

"I cannot wait to see it," said Geraldine McEwan as she arrived at the London launch.

The actress, who voices the character of Miss Thripp in the film, was accompanied by her two granddaughters.

League of Gentlemen star Mark Gatiss, actor Stephen Tompkinson and former Cold Feet regular John Thomson were also in attendance.

Veteran actor Sallis, who has voiced eccentric inventor Wallace since his inception in 1989, described Nick Park as a "lovely man".

"I liked him immediately when I met him," said the Last of the Summer Wine star.

Curse of the Were-Rabbit is released in the UK on 14 October.