10:37am UK, Saturday May 21, 2005

Buxom computer character Lara Croft is being given a trimmer figure for the next Tomb Raider game.

Her slight waist used to prop up a 36DD bust, but makers Eidos have decided to reduce her cup size to a more realistic C-size cup.

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Lara's shedding weight

Lara, fantasy to millions of gamers, is set to set to present fans with another surprise - less revealing clothing.

Some of her outfits will be toned down in the skimpiness stakes and in other scenes the combat-wearing tight-top fighter will even don round-neck, full-length sweaters.

The new-look Lara Croft will be revealed in Tomb Raider: Legend.

Her original creator Toby Gard told The Times: "Lara's been on a diet and she's definitely gone down a cup size, but she's still quite well proportioned."

Lara's re-invention followed two years' research by Eidos after its last Tomb Raider offering, Angel of Darkness fell well short of expectations selling only two million units worldwide.

The hope is that by trimming down her less-likely characteristics, the game will appeal more to women and children.

Tomb Raider brand manager Matt Gorman said: "The days of selling Lara as boobs and guns are over."