Last lap for Hartley

Hartley was pursued for more than 300,000 miles

The oldest worker at a Tyneside greyhound track is being pensioned off - Hartley the mechanical hare.

After more than 60 years loyal service, Hartley is being replaced by a computer.

The stadium's swiftest member of staff started work in the 1940s, and was hounded around the track for more than half a century.

But now bosses at Newcastle's Brough Park are upgrading Hartley with a computerised hare to meet modern racing standards.

Pulley system

Managing Director Alan Hutton said: "Hartley has had his day.

"We have to keep up with what the sport requires and I'm afraid Hartley isn't it.

Hartley (orange) was made by a fair company

"Hartley ran on a pulley system, but that is rather out of date now and we are installing a computer system which will require a new hare.

"It is something that has crept up on us and while we regret the decision, there is nothing we can do.

"The buck stops here."

Mechanical hares were patented in the United States in 1912, and made their first appearance in the UK in the 1920s.

Hartley, a bright orange hare-shaped cylinder, was constructed by professional toy makers who also made fairground models.

His torso was stiffly packed to survive six decades of mauling by greyhounds.