A canine crimebuster, the original Ben, part of crime-fighting duo Jet and Ben, died on Monday after a long and productive life in which he helped thousands of children say no to strangers.

Olivia Richwald looks back on his puppy dog tale.

Ben always had a penchant for dinner ladies, but then again, in his line of work it paid to get on the right side of school staff.

As a working police dog, he spent the first seven years of his life touring primary schools across County Durham spreading the message, Say No to Strangers.

He was very fond of children, and they loved him back.

And if he was lucky, and looked up at the dinner ladies with his big brown eyes, they would disappear into the kitchen before coming back with a treat.

PC Chris Watkins, one of the dog's five handlers over the years, said: "Jet and Ben are legendary. We have new police officers now who remember them from their school days."

The dogs have taught well over 150,000 schoolchildren to say no to strangers since they started visiting schools 14 years ago. The campaign continues today with dog handler PC Ingrid Hudson taking the lead.

In 1992, a golden labrador puppy was recruited as a sidekick to Jet, a black labrador, who toured schools.

Children across the county competed to name him, and seven-year-old Stuart Carey, from Durham, won the honour and called him Ben.

As a 12-week-old puppy, Ben, with Jet, featured in 50,000 new colouring books, designed by The Northern Echo - which told youngsters how to deal with strangers. Their faces also appeared on the side of a double-decker bus.

The campaign worked. Teachers remain convinced children have run away from strangers because of the message spread by Jet and Ben.

PC Mick Watson, who was Ben's handler before the dog retired, said: "Ben was absolutely brilliant, and children and dinner ladies were his favourite people. He was very placid and well loved."

PC Watson's daughter Laura, now 14, nicknamed him "fat Benny gut bucket" on account of his appetite.

In 1999, Ben was retired and went to live with Kevin and Janet Roberts and their son, Jonathan, now eight, in Ferryhill. A new golden labrador puppy, took up the Ben role.

Mrs Roberts, 37, said: "Ben had a lovely nature and we are going to miss him a lot, especially Jonathan."

"He had a hell of a six years with us - he was spoilt rotten."

Ben, who was 13 this year, suffered a heart attack and collapsed and died in the car park of a veterinary surgery on Monday night.

"He was more than a best friend to my son, he was a brother," added Mr Roberts.

"Nothing will ever replace him, but we are trying to put a brave face on."