The creators of Wallace and Gromit unveiled their latest characters today - all of whom share a disability.

Aardman Animations have teamed up with the Leonard Cheshire Disability charity to launch Creature Discomforts, based on their much-loved Creature Comforts series.

The six animal characters are voiced by disabled people who talk about the discrimination and difficulties they encounter.

Peg the Hedgehog, Slim the Stick Insect, Flash the Sausage Dog, Tim the Tortoise, Spud the Slug and Brian the Bull Terrier will feature in TV adverts from January.

They are available to view online today at http://www.creaturediscomforts.org.

The campaign aims to highlight the disadvantages that disabled people experience every day, and to raise awareness among the public.

It will feature in newspapers, magazines, bus stops and online from Thursday, and in TV adverts in January.

Recent research carried out by the charity revealed that nine out of 10 disabled people in the UK believe they are the victims or prejudice or discrimination.

Bryan Dutton, director-general of Leonard Cheshire Disability, said: "We want people to change the way they see disability, to think and act differently and to make a positive difference to the lives of disabled people.

"Disabled people experience unnecessary social barriers which are created largely through ignorance.

"In the 21st century it is unacceptable that such negative attitudes to disability still persist. Everyone has a part to play in creating a world in which disabled people are included in every aspect of life.

"Creature Comforts is well known and much-loved for its ability to bring home messages in a simply, everyday way. Our Creative Discomforts campaign builds on this, making a serious point with humour.'' The campaign's director, Steve Harding-Hill of Aardman, said: "Leonard Cheshire Disability's new campaign is an important step towards changing everyone's attitudes to disability. Working on it has been an amazing experience for us all at Aardman.

"Taking the real voices and experiences of disabled people and creating animated stories that are informative, entertaining and poignant has been an immense but incredibly satisfying challenge.'' :: Slim the Stick Insect Voiced by Irving Mellor, 66, from the Isle of Man Irving was registered disabled due to back problems caused by heavy lifting.

He had to give up his job in the hotel industry and now walks with a stick.

"People should be able to carry on with their lives, regardless of whether they are disabled or not,'' he said.

:: Flash the Sausage Dog Voiced by Alex Milhaly, 57, from Chesterfield Alex had a fall at work aged 32 which damaged his spine.

He is in a wheelchair and needs a number of computerised aids to control his TV, telephone and household utilities.

Access to public buildings and shops is a problem: "I am just as entitled as everyone else to buy something in a shop, but because of the hassle with access, I often end up having to purchase goods online.'' :: Tim the Tortoise Voiced by Ian Wilding, 50, from Cardiff Ian has multiple sclerosis and lives in a Leonard Cheshire Disability residential home. He is married with children.

"There are certain people who would talk to my wife and not me. People need to think it's not the wheelchair, not the disease that's causing the problems.

"Talk to me, not to my position. See the person, not the disability,'' he said.

:: Spud the Slug Voiced by John Marrows, 77, from Chesterfield This grandfather was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1986.

He enjoys the theatre but often has to use the ladies' toilets due to the lack of disabled facilities.

"I never believe people who say you can't do this because you're disabled. I always think that no matter who you are, you've got something in you so you can do something.'' :: Peg the Hedgehog Voiced by Sheila Morgan, 73, from Cardiff A former English teacher, Sheila has lived in the Danbryn Leonard Cheshire Disability home in Cardiff for the past 19 years.

Her bugbears include able-bodied people who use disabled parking spaces.

Morgan, a mother-of-two, believes children should be taught more about disability.

"We could introduce disability at a young age and then repeat this message throughout their formative years at school. In this way, children would be shown from the outset that disability is part of life so they won't be shocked by it,'' she said.