Wayne Rooney becomes the new face of Hovis

Wayne Rooney is heading yeast to make a new fortune - by helping relaunch Hovis loaves.

The Manchester United ace, 22, is set to pick up £150,000 appearing in autumn TV adverts for the famous bread brand.

Details are being kept under wraps, but Roo will begin filming during the next few days in his home city of Liverpool. An insider said: "They want to revert back to more classic commercials for the traditionalists.

"With Wayne being a national icon, they can return to the iconic Hovis style while still appealing to the younger generation."

The new advert will be in the spirit of the iconic 1973 Hovis ad - voted Britain's favourite TV commercial - of a boy pushing a bike laden with Hovis loaves up a steep hill.

Liverpool beat off stiff competition from Prague to be chosen as the location for the two-minute advert which will involve up to 650 extras. It is due to be shown during Coronation Street in September.

The ad's storyline includes keys moments in British history over more than 100 years.

One segment is said to feature the 1984 miners' strike although Rooney is thought not to take part in that scene.

News of the star's involvement comes after Hovis revealed a massive marketing push following an eight per cent sales drop.

Rooney, no stranger to commercials, boasts an impressive list of contracts with the likes of Nike, EA Sports and Coca-Cola.