Aardman scoops animation awards

Shaun the Sheep first appeared in a 1995 Wallace and Gromit film

Aardman Animations, the company behind Wallace and Gromit, has won four prizes at the British Animation Awards.

Shaun The Sheep: Still Life, which is broadcast on CBBC, won best children's series and the children's choice award.

The Pearce Sisters, a short film that also won a Bafta this year, won the best craft award.

Aardman was also awarded the gong for best commissioned new media animation for The Peculiar Adventures of Hector at London's National Film Theatre.

Actor Robert Lindsay, who plays Ben in TV sitcom My Family, won best character voice performance for his reading in Technical Hitch by John Dunleavy.

Peter and the Wolf won an Oscar for best animated short film

Animator Suzie Templeton, who won an Oscar for best animated short film last month, was recognised with the best TV special award for her creation Peter and the Wolf.

The judges said the "intensely moving film has outstanding character design, cinematography and animation that create a palpable sense of place".

Animate Projects scooped two awards including best short film for Yours Truly and best film at the cutting edge for Magnetic Movie.

Dance band The Chemical Brothers picked up best music video for Salmon Dance, which features animated fish singing in a tank.

British Animation Awards director Jayne Pilling said: "The diversity of style, technical ingenuity and choice of subject matter reflects the reasons why the UK animation scene continues to thrive."