The not-so-changing face of Oor Wullie on his 80th anniversary

Jings! Scotland's favourite "spiky-haired loon" Oor Wullie is celebrating his 80th anniversary - and looking good for it.

Wullie began running riot across the pages of the Sunday Post in March 1936, from the pen of Dudley Watkins - the brainchild of DC Thomson managing editor Robert Low.

Envisaged as "an ordinary little boy who the readers would identify with", he was never far from his best mates Fat Bob, Wee Eck and Soapy Joe.

And his escapades often brought him up against his nemesis PC Joe Murdoch.

Despite ageing well but changing little, in his dungarees and tackety boots, Wullie has kept up with the times.

But whether in trouble, or not, the classic image off Oor Wullie is sat on top of his upturned bucket.

David Powell, of the DC Thomson archive, believes Wullie "just connects with people and connects with Scottishness", especially through language.

And language forms part of a statue in honour of the 80-year-old icon.

The statue was unveiled this weekend in the home of DC Thomson, although the wee boy's appeal across Scotland is summed in the comic strips motto - Oor Wullie, Your Wullie, A'bodys Wullie.