Nell the sheepdog, whose videos about life on the North York Moors made her a worldwide star, has died.

She passed away peacefully on the settee at her home in Moors-holm, near Saltburn, east Cleveland, aged 14.

Although still a working sheepdog, the videos made Nell a canine superstar.

She made more than 170 public appearances at schools and WIs throughout North Yorkshire and the North-East.

Last night, Nell's "human friend" paid tribute to the faithful sheepdog.

Former BBC producer Graeme Aldous said: "It is one of life's sadnesses that we're not allowed to keep our dogs as long as we'd wish. But Nell was fit and happy virtually up until the end."

Nell's involvement with film-making began when Graeme - a TV-man turned farmer - was asked to write a script for a film about life on the North York Moors. Stuck for a storyline he realised the landscape had been shaped for centuries by the sheep that graze upon them.

From there it was a short step to Nell becoming a presenter, with actress Diana Davies (Mrs Bates in Emmerdale) providing a voice to go with Ted Parker's video pictures.

Nell's View of The North York Moors proved so popular it was followed by two sequels, Nell's Coast and Nell's Curious Yorkshire. A special version of Nell's Curious Coast was made to show to young people in Minsk, Belarusse, before a twinning visit with east Cleveland.

"She could get over an enthusiastic message about the wonders of the Moors in a way that a human performer couldn't," said Graeme.

In tribute to her fame Nell will have a permanent memorial in Whitby where step 14 of the 199 steps to the Abbey has been dedicated to her.