Giant SpongeBob statues rejected by France nature spot

Local opposition has reportedly prevented the installation of giant statues of cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants at a French beauty spot.

Nickelodeon wanted to position a number of four-metre statues underwater off the Calanques inlets near Marseilles, AFP reports.

It was hoped that children having diving lessons would be able to see the statues.

Activists successfully argued that the natural site should not be used for marketing, PR agent Thierry Reboul confirmed yesterday.

Last year SpongeBob executive Paul Tibbet suggested that the reason people connect with the show is the optimism of the characters.

The show was named 'Favourite Cartoon' at last week's Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.

> SpongeBob SquarePants gets beaten up in Hollywood - video
> David Hasselhoff meets SpongeBob SquarePants

Watch the SpongeBob SquarePants movie trailer below: