WALLACE Walk and Gromit Grove could be off the map before they've even been on it.

A storm has erupted over the naming of two roads in South Gloucestershire which were officially opened by Preston animator Nick Park last week and named after the Plasticine stars created at Nick's Bristol firm Aarman Animations.

Despite the massive publicity surrounding the novelty names, Mangots Field Parish Council which approves the naming of roads in that area, claims they had already agreed on historical titles for the Wimpey development.

Clerk for the council George Mackie said: "Wimpey jumped the gun. We have nothing whatsoever to do with Bristol."

He said the council had agreed to call the roads after tithe fields so they were surprised to read of the opening in the press.

Nick was unavailable for comment and Aardman Animations refused to discuss the controversy, saying only: "It's not our problem." Wimpey are meeting with the parish council in the hope of resolving the issue.

Wallace and Gromit could still be immortalised in road names but perhaps Nick's home town would make for a better location.

Chairman of the Preston Borough Council's Highways Committee Jonathan Saksena said he couldn't see any problems having a new road in the town named after Nick Park or his animations.

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