LICENSING and merchandising group Entertainment Rights has snapped up the intellectual property rights for a new cartoon version of the accident-prone comedy character Mr Bean.

A 52-part animated series is being produced for ITV, with Rowan Atkinson continuing to provide all of Mr Bean's vocal sounds.

The original TV series, created by Mr Atkinson and playwright Richard Curtis, holds the UK TV record of best-selling video.

And 1997's Mr Bean film grossed more than £167m at the box office. Entertainment Rights will develop and merchandise toys, gifts and clothing to link in with the series.

Chief executive Mike Heap said the deal was in line with the group's strategy to build "strong and instantly recognisable brands".

He said: "Entertainment Rights will continue to exploit the character and further build its presence within its established fan base as well as bringing the Mr Bean character to a new and younger audience."

Meanwhile children's character Bob the Builder has a new friend in Barney the Dinosaur, after his parent company Hit Entertainment fixed up a deal to expand its global presence.

The London licensing and merchandising firm is buying the privately-held US firm Lyrick, which owns the rights to the cuddly purple dinosaur, in a reverse takeover worth £190.4m.

Hit said the deal meant it was now one of the world's leading independent pre-school children's entertainment studios.

Barney is one of the most highly-rated pre-school television programmes in the US after first appearing on screen nine years ago. More than 55 million Barney videos, 68 million Barney books and 25 million Barney soft toys have been sold over the same period.

Hit's chief executive Peter Orton said the acquisition was "a perfect union". "While Hit will be greatly assisted in extending our existing brands into the US, we will also be able to firmly position Barney as a global brand."

The acquisition will double the group's turnover and value Hit at about £600m.