Muffin the Mule gets modern touch

The new animated Muffin the Mule is on BBC Two and CBeebies

Children's classic Muffin the Mule is back on TV after 50 years.

The popular puppet was considered the first hit children's TV character when it made its debut in 1946.

The show, presented by Annette Mills, was part of the Sunday afternoon programme Children's Hour, which ran until 1955.

The modern-day Muffin - which has been created using 2D computer animation - will be broadcast on BBC Two and digital channel CBeebies from Monday.

The original Muffin was a wooden puppet

Muffin's old friends Oswald the Ostrich, Louise the Lamb and Peregrine the Penguin will also appear in the new animated version.

Muffin joins other classic characters like Andy Pandy and Bill and Ben, who have also been resurrected on CBeebies, the BBC's channel for children aged under six.

The original Muffin puppet was a guest of honour at BBC Television Centre in west London for the launch of the new series.

"Muffin is a TV legend and we gave him the full five-star treatment for his visit," a BBC spokeswoman said.