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Cartoon favourite Ivor the Engine is being brought back to life in a new book, 50 years after first appearing on television.

The book, which will raise money for charity, has been written by the son of the late Oliver Postgate, who wrote the original Ivor stories. It will be illustrated by Peter Firmin, the original illustrator.

The last full length story of the Welsh engine and his driver, Jones The Steam, was made in 1977.

Postgate, who died last year, and Firmin were also behind other children's' favourites including Bagpuss, Noggin the Nog and The Clangers.
 
Dan Postgate said: "I was a bit daunted by the prospect of slipping into my dad's Hush Puppies and composing a new story. I hope I've managed to summon up some of the flavour of the original Ivor tales. It was certainly a real thrill to get the stamp of authenticity by having my story illustrated by Peter Firmin."

The cartoon and its tales of Dai Station and Idris the Dragon first appeared on television in 1959 and was then revamped in the mid-1970s.

The new book, Bluebell's Christmas Mission, is set in a snowy Wales on Christmas Day and will aid UK veterinary charity Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad. The story features Bluebell the donkey.

Firmin and his daughter Emily, after whom Emily in Bagpuss is named, visited the charity's projects in Morocco earlier this year. He said: "I hope this little book helps the important work they do for both working animals and the people who depend on them."

The charity's chief executive, Jeremy Hulme, said: "We were absolutely delighted when Peter and Dan agreed to fire up Ivor once again and it's been a real privilege to be part of this project. We didn't know if it would ever happen initially but Peter was very keen to support our work, and his gorgeous illustrations and Dan's wonderful little story have combined to create something that all Ivor fans, young and old, will treasure."

Ivor reappeared on Welsh TV screens in 2004 to promote the former BBC Wales digital channel 2W.

In 2003, Ivor the Engine was voted number 18 in the first stage of a poll to find the top 100 Welsh Heroes sponsored by the assembly government.

1960s' Ivor the Engine episodes unearthed in Kent

A collection of Ivor the Engine episodes which have not been seen since the 1960s have been unearthed in Kent.

The 24 reels were found at the back of the converted pigshed in Blean, Kent, where Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate created their much-loved films.

Postgate, who died in 2008, and Firmin were also behind other favourites including Bagpuss and The Clangers.

Postgate's son, Dan, said the episodes could be released once they had been converted into a digital format. He said the black and white episodes were discovered by an agency that was digitising his father's old films.

Mr Postgate added: "My dad stored some of the old 16mm film in cans in an outbuilding on Peter Firmin's farm. They were stacked at the back of the shed in a store area. Kaleidoscope took away the cans and reported back that there were a lot of old black and white Ivor the Engine episodes. They haven't been seen since 1969. Most were remade in colour later but these are the raw originals."

He said: "They will be of interest to a certain number of people as they have a particular wistful quality to them."

The last full length story of the Welsh engine and his driver, Jones The Steam, was made in 1977.

The cartoon and its tales of Dai Station and Idris the Dragon first appeared on television in 1959 and was then revamped in the mid-1970s.

Ivor reappeared on Welsh TV screens in 2004 to promote the former BBC Wales digital channel 2W.

In December 2009 Mr Postgate announced that he planned to write a new Ivor the Engine story to raise money for charity.