Smurfs turn small German town blue

A small German town was turned blue when it tried to break the world record for the largest meeting of Smurfs.

Lauchringen, near the German border with Switzerland, was a sea of blue and white as people donned costumes from the Belgian cartoon.

The attempt saw 2,762 participants dressed as characters like Papa Smurf and Smurfette dancing and singing the series' theme song.

Created in Belgium in 1958, the appeal of the Smurfs – or Die Schlümpfe as they are known in Germany – still endures for children more than 50 years on.