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C±«Óãtv's Blue Peter announced today that, after 14 loyal years working on the programme, Mabel, the programme's Border Collie Cross dog, will officially hang up her lead and retire from the show on Tuesday 30 March.

Mabel was the programme's first rescue dog.

She originally featured on the programme on 8 January 1996, in a film about the RSPCA, and officially joined on 19 February 1996 when she drove into the studio with inspector Mark Buggie.

Her name was inspired by the letters M.A.B1 on her RSPCA kennel.

The popular pet is the second longest-serving dog on the C±«Óãtv show after Petra, who appeared on the programme for 15 years from 1962 to 1977.

During her long career Mabel has starred alongside 14 different presenters.

Mabel, who has one blue eye and one brown, currently appears on the show with fellow canines Golden Retriever Lucy and Helen's dog Barney.

She will spend her retirement at home living with a former member of the production team where she can take time to play with her favourite toy, a football, and continue her habit of taking a peak inside other people's bags.

Mabel's final programme will feature a tribute to the popular pooch's finest moments from her 14-year tenure on Blue Peter.

Presenter Joel Defries said: "Mabel is a legend – she has spent 98 dog years working on Blue Peter and we will all miss her dearly."

Andy Akinwolere said: "I know that our viewers will miss Mabel as much as we will."

And Helen Skelton said: "It will be a sad day for us all when we have to bid a fond farewell to our studio mate Mabel, we all wish her a very happy retirement."

VT