A new tattooed Barbie doll has been criticised by parents groups as overly-sexualised and inappropriate. The rock chick Barbie doll comes with dyed pink hair with her chest and neck covered in tattoos, and a small dog in a cactus suit called Bastardino.

Although Barbie has been criticised frequently throughout its 52-year history for setting a bad example for young girls with her unrealistic body shape and ditsy character, none of her incarnations seem to have caused so much fuss as her latest avatar.

Manufacturers, Mattel has described the doll as a "funky fashionista" who is "ready for fun in fashion-forward form", and is already sold out in the US until next month.