THE star of an advertising campaign that spoofed the village of Gisburn has been ‘wowed’ on a whistle-stop tour of the Ribble Valley.

Fictional resident ‘Claude’, who drives from Menton on the Cote d’Azur, France, to East Lancashire in the Renault Megane TV ads, was invited to officially open Gisburn’s new store, the Delicious Deli and Café on Saturday.

But beforehand he visited some of the Ribble Valley’s most scenic locations after receiving a personal request from the borough’s mayor to see what the area has to offer.

The ads, which have divided residents, poke fun at the village by contrasting life there and in France.

Footage includes comparing a swimming pool with a puddle, a pair of designer heels with slippers and a glamorous couple sipping wine in a restaurant with a frumpy couple drinking from a thermos flask on a bench.

Claude told a crowd who gathered in Gisburn to see him on Saturday that it was a pleasure to be there.

He said: “I was honoured to be asked to open the new shop and really see Gisburn. It was great to see so many people.”

His visit saw him take in villages including Sawley, Grindleton, West Bradford and Waddington as well as Clitheroe Castle and its panoramic views of the Ribble Valley.

This was followed by a visit to Cowman’s Famous Sausage Shop, Clitheroe, where he was be presented with Claude’s Commemorative Country Sausage and a look around one of the UK’s most famous wine shops, D Byrne and Co.

Mayor Coun Lois Rimmer said: “At the end of the tour I said ‘so Claude, you criticised Gisburn in the adverts, but what do you think of the Ribble Valley now?’

“He agreed that it was beautiful. He was astounded by some of the beautiful houses and architecture and he was so moved at how many people welcomed him.”