Pooh joins Hollywood Walk of Fame

Winnie the Pooh, one of the world's best loved characters, has been awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Fans lined up to watch as Pooh, who is celebrating his 80th birthday this year, unveiled the honour.

Pooh is among about a dozen animated stars, including Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Snow White, to be awarded a star on the famed pavement.

"[Animated characters] are an important part of the industry now," said Hollywood honorary mayor Johnny Grant.

Pooh's adventures

He added: "Some of the movies [the studios] are putting out don't do so well, but animated characters are doing great business."

The ceremony is part of Walt Disney's celebrations for the 80th birthday of AA Milne's creation.

Pooh first appeared in the London Evening News on Christmas Eve 1925 in a story called The Wrong Sort of Bees.

The bear's many adventures, along with his friends Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore, have since been translated into more than 40 languages.

Walt Disney, which owns the rights to Winnie the Pooh, began 18 months of celebrations earlier this year.

Pooh generated $6bn (£3.4bn) in retail sales for Disney in 2005, a figure only beaten by Mickey Mouse.