Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have paid $500,000 to hire a body double of their daughter.

The couple are concerned about the attention 13-month-old North receives from photographers, so have taken drastic measures to allow the youngster and her nanny to go out undetected.

A source told Britain's Grazia magazine: ''Kim and Kanye hired the lookalike to shield North from the paparazzi.

''There were auditions held in LA at a specialist agency and in the end they found a child who is the spitting image of their daughter.

''They also hired a body-double nanny, who they hope will really throw paps off the scent.''

North isn't the first celebrity offspring to have a double, as it was revealed last year that Suri Cruise - the daughter of Tom Cruise and his ex-wife Katie Holmes - also had a decoy.

However, the doppelganger's cover was blown when they were pictured minutes apart wearing matching outfits.

Suri's lookalike was spotted just weeks after it had been claimed Tom had beefed up his daughter's security after meeting with risk analysts and abduction experts.

A source said at the time: ''They have talked with them specifically in relation to Suri and her well being.

''These guys deal with kidnap threats of families and children for super rich people and corporations.

''They work in high risk territories and targets around the world. They advise on how to best prevent subjects being placed in compromising situations, while offering protection solutions, too.''

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Lovely parents. <3

I weep for humanity