Michelin man loses weight

The French tyre company, Michelin, has said it's sending its world-famous Michelin man on a diet.

The company says the leaner, healthier look for the logo -- a fat man made out of tyres -- will be introduced next year when Michelin man celebrates his one-hundredth birthday.

A Michelin spokesman said the change of image came about after the company consulted potential customers in Asia, where Michelin wants to increase its sales.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service