The Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes has welcomed some very special guests to its visitor centre.

Made from wool rather than clay, the new characters are Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese's most famous fans, Wallace and Gromit, alongside other stars from the popular animated films, including Wendolene and Shaun the Sheep.

Created by the Hawes Yarnbombers, a group of six friends brought together by their love of knitting and crocheting, the life-sized figures took seven months to create using more than 15kg of yarn.

Darlington and Stockton Times: Wallace & Gromit in pride of place at the Wensleydale Creamery Visitor Centre with representatives from the Hawes Yarnbombers

During the summer and autumn, the characters sat outdoors in the centre of Hawes market place, welcoming visitors and raising more than £15,000 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance through donations.

Their new permanent home at the Wensleydale Creamery as part of its Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese Experience will allow visitors to have their picture taken with the famous figures and also raise further funds for the charity.

Jane Barratt, one of the Hawes Yarnbombers who worked on the project, said: “Our Wallace and Gromit creations were a real labour of love. The characters are synonymous with the Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese, and we wanted to bring this to life in a way that could be celebrated by locals and visitors alike, all whilst raising some much-needed funds for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

“We’re absolutely delighted to see them all so happy in their new home and hope visitors can go on to enjoy them for years to come.”

Trish Cannon, director of the Wensleydale Creamery Visitor Centre, added: “It’s such a pleasure to be able to give Wallace and Gromit a permanent home in our visitor centre so that these amazing creations can be enjoyed by all. We’d love visitors to come along, take a picture with them and leave a small donation.”