Droids and superheroes ride to rescue for Lego

Droids and superheroes have ridden to the rescue for Lego.

The Danish toys giant on Tuesday (September 3) reported a rise in first-half sales - up four percent to about 2.2 billion dollars.

Models of Star Wars robots and Marvel characters were among the big sellers over the period.

For years Lego used to post double-digit increases in sales.

But that came to an abrupt end in 2017.

Now chief executive Niels Christiansen says expansion is back on the agenda.

He's hoping to deliver a single-digit gain for the whole year.

China was the company's best performing market in the first six months.

Despite a shift to online sales, Lego plans to add 35 stores there by year's end.

India could be next on its target list.

Christiansen says he hopes to see Lego-branded shops there too.

Rivals won't let it have all the movie magic though.

Earlier in the year U.S. toymaker Hasbro beat forecasts.

Marvel action figures got much of the credit there too.