GLOBAL entertainment giant Disney Pixar has awarded Manchester-based Character World the licence to produce bedroom ranges for the predicted summer film blockbuster, Wall-E.

The textile company, which in April secured a multi-million-pound private equity investment from RJD Partners, has designed and produced an extensive Wall-E range that includes duvets, curtains, fleece blankets and snuggles sacs.

The movie, about a loveable robot, has gone straight to number one in the north American box office chart, taking £31.3m in its opening weekend. It is released in this country on Friday.

Danny Schweiger, director at Character World, said: "It complements our ever expanding range of movie licences for 2008 and beyond."

Character World's Wall-E range is available at retailers including Tesco, Asda, Express Gifts and Littlewoods.

Character World, the UK's number one licensed household textile company, produces goods featuring a host of popular children's brands, including Disney Princess, Roary The Racing Car, High School Musical, Thomas, Dora The Explorer and The Simpsons.

Turnover at the company, which is based at the Stanley Green business park near Cheadle Hulme, is forecast to rise from £16.5m to £21m this year. Tweet