New string Noddy takes a bow

Four million Noddy books are sold every year

A Somerset man is pulling some strings to make Noddy every child's favourite toy once again.

David Leech, from Langport, has been commissioned to design the first string-version of the Enid Blyton character for 28 years.

The latest incarnation of Noddy, with his traditional bright colours, his cheerful cheeky face and a bell in his hat, has already been making a name for itself around the world.

Mr Leech has heard from Noddy collectors from as far afield as Australia and California. They want one of the first new puppets, which Mr Leech hopes to have completed in time for Christmas.

Noddy's first story was published in 1949

Now over 50 years old, Noddy is still a firm favourite with children -four million Noddy books are sold worldwide every year.

But it was the original watercolour drawings of Dutch illustrator Harmsen Van der Beek which helped give a face to the character.

When the pictures where sent to Enid Blyton for her approval she snapped them up.

Mr Van der Beek died suddenly in 1953, but not before he confessed to his publisher sometimes all he could see were little Noddies crawling over his desk.

David Leech believes he knows why Enid Blyton's cheeky hero, who was first published in 1949, has lost none of his appeal.

Adult collectors

He said: "Everybody knows Noddy. That's one of the main reasons I chose to do him. He is still extremely popular.

"In fact, he is probably more popular now than he's ever been."

The new puppet was designed for the adult collectors' market.

Featuring a traditional "t-bar" control which makes him rock from side to side and nod, the final design was approved after 24 prototypes were produced over 18 months.

All the arm and leg pieces are cut in wood that have been drilled through. After that it is just a question of threading it through with string and tying it together.

David said: "At first I didn't think it looked like Noddy, but once I had put him together I could see he was the cheeky little boy who peers from the Enid Blyton books."

Enid Blyton died in 1968, but not before she was described as the "20th Century's most successful children's writer".