Aardman's famed Wallace and Gromit characters, last seen on the big screen in 2005 feature Curse Of The Were-Rabbit, are returning to a 30-minute format for TV.

Trouble At' Mill will be shown on BBC 1. The short is in pre-production now and will start shooting in January 2008 to be finished by autumn/holiday season 2008.

Aardman's Bristol headquarters will host all production.

Progress for the film can be tracked at www.wallaceandgromit.com, where the completed film will also be previewed.

The plot follows the Plasticene pair running a successful granary under threat from a criminal targeting local bakers.

Director Nick Park said: 'I love making films for the cinema but the production of Chicken Run and Curse of the Were-Rabbit were virtually back to back and each film took 5 years to complete, Trouble At' Mill will be so much quicker to make and I can't wait to get back into production.'

Park will work with writer Bob Baker, who he also worked with on The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave.

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