Birthday bear captured hearts of youngsters

The little yellow bear hosted a free family fun day at North Pier and a special edition of The Sooty Show at North Pier Theatre, to mark his landmark, platinum year - right back in his birth town.

Sooty was bought by entertainer Harry Corbett as a gift for his young son Matthew from a novelty stall on the pier, back in 1948.

Sooty was joined by his pals Sweep and Soo for the event, on Saturday, as well as puppeteer Richard Cadell.

Richard said: “We had more than 800 people at the show and well over 1,000 along to the party on the pier, so it was a great way to celebrate Sooty’s birthday.”

The live performance of The Sooty Show was raising money for Donna’s Dreamhouse, NHS Teaching Hospital Blackpool and the Blackpool branch of Sooty’s long-standing charity partner, the Royal National Institute of Blind People.

Earlier in the week, to mark the event, Sooty and Richard unveiled a new brass plaque at North Pier during a live broadcast with Alison Hammond on ITV’s This Morning show - and he already has a blue plaque on the Promenade’s railings just nearby.