A new children's craze has earned a Basildon manufacturer a multi-million pound deal.

Bosses at toy makers PMS International, in Cricketers Way, were today celebrating after securing the huge licence which is set to create jobs for the town.

The contract is for a new set of toddlers' television characters called Jellikins, which are predicted to take over from the huge success of the Teletubbies.

The new characters will be on the television every day from the end of this month and on store shelves at the end of the year.

Gosh!, a subsidiary of PMS, won the licence for the UK against stiff international competition.

Mike Broadfield, chief executive, said: "This will mean new jobs in Basildon as we take on staff to handle the huge demand created by these new products.

"We will be producing a complete range of products from vinyl toys to stationery, from character-shaped lunch boxes to inflatable toys, including melamine tableware and cutlery."

Gosh! supplies branded toys to major high street stores and already has coveted RSPCA and Animal Hospital licences.

Right - these cute characters are set to bring more jobs to Basildon

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