The cartoonist who gave Ronald McDonald a make-over is suing McDonald's Restaurants in the High Court for more than �1m.

Donald Evans redesigned Ronald, Ham Burglar, and many of the other characters used by McDonald's, and created several new ones.

But Mr Evans claimed in a writ issued on Thursday that McDonald's had breached his copyright by reproducing or authorising the reproduction of some of his drawings without his permission.

McDonald's has said it will contest the claim.

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Mr Evans, of Norfolk, and his wife, Lynden, trading as Global Images, worked for McDonald's from 1986 to 2000.

It is also alleged that Global Images was not paid for some of the use of the designs.

The writ states Mr Evans should be paid extra because McDonald's deliberately allowed the infringement "with the intention of accruing a benefit to themselves".

As a result, according to the writ, the 49-year-old had to enter into an individual voluntary arrangement with his creditors.

Represented by Allen & Overy and Henry Carr QC, Mr Evans is hoping for a trial date within nine months.

Allen & Overy intellectual property partner Robert Barry said the case concerned "ownership in images of characters that have become worldwide corporate icons of McDonald's".