Harold says goodbye to Neighbours

Harold first appeared in the long-running Australian soap in 1987

Neighbours' longest-standing character Harold Bishop is leaving the Australian soap after 16 years.

Last year actor Ian Smith, 70, agreed to continue in his role as the popular character on a part-time basis after negotiations with the show's producers.

But it has been confirmed that Smith will film his final scenes on Ramsay Street in October.

Harold will be seen overcoming prostate cancer before deciding to leave Erinsborough for good.

His final episodes will air in Australia in February, and on Five in the UK next spring.

Well loved

Reports in the Australian media suggested producers knew he was about to leave the show.

"It was entirely his decision. We love him and would have loved to keep him," a spokesman for Australia's Ten network said.

Bumbling Harold has been one of the soap's most loved characters over the years.

He arrived on Ramsay Street in 1987, when Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan were still in the cast, and married Madge Ramsay, played by Anne Charleston.

He left the show for five years in 1991 after Harold was swept away at sea, believed dead.

The character returned in 1996, suffering from amnesia.

In an interview in February, Smith said he made his decision to go part-time after suffering abuse at the hands of youngsters.

He said: "The recognition I get can be ugly. They hunt in packs, see me, laugh, point, sometimes chuck lager and shout things.

"I absolutely hate it and by semi-retiring - just coming back for a stint every four months - I become a bit less recognisable and hopefully less subjected to the horrible abuse I've suffered."