TOYTOWN hero Noddy is to entertain another generation of toddlers after his owner announced the extension of a deal with broadcaster Five yesterday.

Under a new contact between Chorion and Five, Make Way for Noddy will be shown for at least 30 weeks a year until 2012.

Chorion shares rose four per cent yesterday after it also unveiled a contract that will boost the presence of the Enid Blyton character in the US.

The deal with Sprout - a new American pre-school network - is in addition to Noddy's shows on US public broadcaster PBS Kids.

Chorion chief executive Nicholas James said the deals were a "huge boost".

He said: ''Noddy is now assured of a sustained high profile TV presence in its two largest markets, which is a pre-requisite for generating growth in licensing and merchandising revenues."

Chorion also owns the rights to the Mr Men and Little Miss brands, and Agatha Christie's novels and has a four-year ITV deal to screen Miss Marple specials.

Chorion acquired the rights to the Enid Blyton estate in 1996, when it was known as Trocadero. Noddy is broadcast in about 115 countries.