By 'eck! We're an inspiration
Wallace and Gromit have topped a poll to find the most inspirational figures in the creative arts world
The cartoon creations were the surprise choice in a survey of 16-25-year-olds.
They beat all-comers, including the likes of the Arctic Monkeys, Pete Doherty, Kate Moss and Damien Hirst.
The adventures of Wallace and Gromit have scooped three Oscars for creator Nick Park and their latest caper, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, was a box office hit.
Park said of the poll result: "This is great news. We've never made the Wallace and Gromit films for a specific audience, so it's extremely rewarding to all of us at Aardman that the films inspire this particular age group."
The survey was commissioned by organisers of the Noise arts and media festival in association with MSN Spaces.
They asked 4,500 16-25-year-olds who or what inspired them in the creative arts.
Sheffield's Arctic Monkeys came second, followed by cartoon band Gorillaz.
In fourth place was "society" as a whole.
JK Rowling's schoolboy wizard Harry Potter was fifth, ahead of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, singer-songwriter KT Tunstall and Oscar-nominated actress Keira Knightley.
Big Brother and David Beckham made up the top 10.
The top 25 included Brit artist Damien Hirst, former Mercury Prize winner Dizzee Rascal, supermodel Kate Moss and her on-off boyfriend, drug-addled singer Pete Doherty.
Big Brother lovebirds Chantelle and Preston also made an appearance - chosen ahead of Tony Blair and Stella McCartney.
Denise Proctor, executive producer of the Noise festival, said: "The result is not what we were expecting. This is a truly striking results because it shows that British youth have a strongly defined idea of what creativity is. They admire this abiding creative British brand which is recognised internationally."
The research also found that young people in the North West consider themselves to be the most creative - while those living in Yorkshire are the least creative.
