LOVABLE puppet Sooty certainly looks good for his age - this weekend he celebrated his 50th birthday.

With friends Sweep and Soo, he travelled to his 'birthplace' of Blackpool for a giant party at the Stakis Hotel where young fans were waiting to wish him a happy birthday.

Among the crowd were Rhianne and Katie Murray, four and two, (pictured) from Blackpool.

Sooty was also given the honour of being made resort mayor for the day to celebrate the anniversary of his discovery in a novelty shop on North Pier.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.