A film producer is planning a grand day out - after buying Wallace and Gromit's van.

Tristan Loraine, 45, from Horsham spotted the Austin A35 on internet auction site eBay.

He paid £8,000 after discovering filmmaker Nick Park was selling the vintage vehicle - a model of which features as the Anti-Pesto van in 2005's Wallace And Gromit: Curse Of The Were Rabbit.

In the film, the intrepid duo use the van to transport Wallace's Bunvac 2000, an invention created to catch the furry fiend.

Mr Park said: "I've always been a fan of Austins and this particular vehicle inspired me to come up with the Anti-Pesto van."

Mr Loraine said he bought the van on the "spur of the moment". He told The Argus: "Nick Park has won an Oscar for every Wallace and Gromit film he has made. It's a remarkable achievement.

"I thought there would be lots of bids for the van and thought it was important to keep it in the country."

But don't expect to see the Anti-Pesto van on the streets of Sussex any time soon, as Mr Loraine is planning to save it for special excursions. He said: "I have been thinking of approaching the national motor museum at Beaulieu to see if it would like to display it.

"Another idea I have had is to take it to schools and show it to children with special needs.

"It's really special to look in the log book and see the former owner is Nick Park."

Money from the sale will go to Wallace And Gromit's Children's Foundation.

Mr Loraine said he wanted to use the van to raise awareness and money for the charity.

Mr Loraine has made a documentary, Welcome Aboard Toxic Airlines, which will be shown at the Sallis Benney Theatre in Grand Parade, Brighton, on Sunday at 11am.