Prison enlists teddy to improve its public image

A Japanese prison has enlisted the help of a 6ft cuddly mascot to help improve its image.

Bosses at Asahikawa Prison, north of Tokyo, which is renowned as a tough jail, have brought in the purple-haired teddy, called Katakkuri-chan, in an attempt to change people's perceptions of the jail because they are concerned too many people think it is simply a dark place with huge grey walls.