Crofty: another of the characters

"I wrote a short story five years ago and have always thought what a great TV show it would make.

"The Cornish pasty is famed throughout the world, it has got mass appeal and I think the public, especially children, will really take to a family of funny, funky pasties that have countless adventures and scrapes."

Jim Driscoll, creator of the much loved Shoe People cartoon series, said: "I have owned a house in St Ives for 20 years, and knew Vincent through his father.

"My company Galleon Group is involved in a number of children's animation projects and when Vincent told me of his idea I immediately thought that it had great possibilities."

Bethesda: the female "Riviera Pastie"

Jim introduced Vincent to Fireman Sam creator and children's artist Rob Lee and together the three of them have developed characters and storylines.

Sailmaker, a new media company in London, created the first "Pasties" trailer using Flash animation, which is suitable for broadcast on television and over the internet.

The Cornish Riviera Pasties made their international debut in Las Vegas on 21 January at the North American Television Producers Exhibition.

Mr Walker added: "The idea is to create a video that we can show around the world to attract co-production partners and eventually TV stations who will want to buy the show."