The world famous HMV logo is to get a new dog - in the shape of the heroic and long suffering Gromit. The new image is based on the original 1898 His Master's Voice oil painting which features Nipper the dog listening to an early gramophone recording.
HMV will be using the image for three months to support the promotion of children's DVDs at its stores. Bosses assured customers Nipper was not in danger and would still represent HMV in other uses of its logo.
Nick Park, creator of Wallace and Gromit, said: "It's a great honour to be stepping in the same paw prints as an icon as big as Nipper. Gromit will look after 'the seat' for as long as Nipper allows."
HMV is to use the Gromit image in the windows of its 220 stores and in advertisements in the press and on the London Underground for the next three months as part of a collaboration with Oscar-winning Aardman Animations.