Thomas the Tank Engine gets a new look

All change please! Thomas the Tank Engine is getting a new look.

The famous blue locomotive has been given a refresh ahead of the launch of a new series of the Thomas & Friends show later this year.

Mattel - the toy company who own Thomas the Tank Engine - say the new look "blends classic train culture with a warm, modern look, reinforcing the emotional connection families have had with Thomas for decades".

Since his first appearance in 1945, Thomas has changed his looks a number of times, from hand-drawn book illustrations, to live-action models, and 2D and 3D animation.

Thomas the Tank Engine was created by British author Reverend Wilbert Awdry as a way to entertain his young son who was ill with measles in 1943.

Rev Awdry was fascinated by trains and wrote a collection of books called The Railway Series, which follows the adventures of a group of trains who lived on the fictional Island of Sodor.

Thomas the Tank Engine first appeared in the books in 1946, and in total Rev Awdry and his son wrote 42 books for the series.

Thomas became very popular, and in 1984 the books were turned into a live action TV series, called Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, and was even narrated by Sir Ringo Starr - the drummer from famous band The Beatles.

Since then there have been more than 20 series of Thomas the Tank Engine shown in at least 180 countries around the world - as well as films, merchandise and a even a theme park in Staffordshire.