Crochet lover celebrates 50 years of Bagpuss

Bagpuss - and Sue Cockroft loved him

A crochet lover has paid tribute to children's TV character Bagpuss.

The iconic feline turned 50 this week and Sue Cockroft, 73, from Hereford, created an intricate post box topper in his honour.

The topper - on Ross Road in Hereford - features the magical, stripy cat with rodent friends Charliemouse, Eddiemouse, Janiemouse, Jenniemouse, Lizziemouse and Williemouse.

The BBC children's show first aired on 12 February 1974 and was the brainchild of Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate.

Ms Cockroft said she had been crocheting for as long as she could remember, having been taught as a child by her mother.

Explaining her love for Bagpuss, she said: "My children were born in the 1970's, so grew up watching Bagpuss on TV.

"Not sure why I decided to use him on the topper, I just like him and I had actually planned it before I knew it was the 50th anniversary - some unknown inspiration."

Five decades on from his screen debut, the original Bagpuss is now on show at The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge in Canterbury.

Bagpuss in Here’s One We Made Earlier, an exhibition of children’s TV history at The Lowry, Salford

Despite only 13 episodes being made, the programme remained much-loved down the generations.

In 1999, it was voted the UK's all-time favourite children's programme.

The premise of the show saw Bagpuss live in a shop that was a home for lost property.

Bagpuss would come to life with the film then changing from sepia to colour.

And when Bagpuss awoke, so did his friends: Professor Yaffle the woodpecker bookend, Gabriel the toad and Madeleine the rag doll, as well as the musical mice on their magical mouse organ.