Blue Peter fans were sad to hear the news that Mabel the dog will retire from the popular children's show after 14 years.

The border collie-cross is one of the BBC1 programme's longest-serving pets and will make her last appearance on March 30.

She was the first-ever rescue dog to appear on the show where she starred alongside 14 different presenters beginning with Katy Hill, Stuart Miles and Tim Vincent.

The news was broken on the programme to viewers and presenter Andy Akinwolere said: "I know that our viewers will miss Mabel as much as we will."

Mabel first featured on the programme on January 8, 1996 in a film item about the RSPCA and officially joined on February 19 that year.

She was driven into the studio by inspector Mark Buggie, and her name was inspired by the letters M.A.B 1 - based on Buggie's initials - which were written on her RSPCA kennel.

Mabel is the second longest serving dog on the CBBC show after Petra, who appeared on the programme for 15 years, until she left in 1977.

The BBC said she will spend her retirement at home living with a former member of the production team - enjoying her favourite toy, a football, and poking around inside people's bags.

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