MR BLOBBY is alive and kicking and can be seen at a North-East summer fair this weekend.

The cuddly pink character, and his wife, Mrs Blobby, made famous on Noel Edmonds' House Party TV shows of the 1980s and 1990s, may now be seen as retro in the early months of the millennium, but are apparently still going strong.

They made an appearance yesterday, helping to publicise the weekend Millennium Fair and Roadshow at Durham's Finchale Training College.

Travelling in a garish orange-shaped car they called in at Bowburn Primary School, near Durham, to meet pupils yesterday.

Both the Blobbies and a group of children from the school can be seen at Saturday's fair at the Finchale site, near Newton Hall, Durham.

The youngsters recently won a Song for Europe-style event at County Hall, Durham, appearing as the Netherlands, and will be repeating their singing and dancing performance at the fair.

Other attractions include taekwondo displays, Irish dancing, the Frankland Prison Dog Display Team, an array of classic and vintage vehicles, quad biking, face painting, ball pool and bouncy castle, plus live music from up and coming North-East groups, the Whisky Band and Ladykillers.

The fair runs from 10am to 4pm, with all proceeds going to improve facilities at the college, the North-East's only residential training and rehabilitation centre for adults.