Former Blue Peter host John Noakes, famous for his escapades with Shep the dog and for being the TV show's longest-running presenter, has died aged 83.

Noakes had been suffering from Alzheimer's and his release from the illness "must be counted as a blessing", a family friend said.

Tributes poured in for the star, who has been hailed as the "best" Blue Peter presenter, from the show's former hosts Peter Purves, Janet Ellis, Konnie Huq and Anthea Turner.

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Family friend Wendy Downes confirmed the news that he died peacefully on Sunday morning in a statement, saying: "He had endured and suffered from Alzheimer's over recent years and whilst he will be greatly missed by his wife, family and many friends, his release from continuing ill health must be counted as a blessing.

"His many escapades with his faithful companion Shep, during his time with Blue Peter, will live on in many people's memories and that is how his family would like him remembered."

The Yorkshire-born star worked on the children's show for 12-and-a-half years in the 1960s and 1970s, when he developed a reputation as the show's action man.

He was also known for his partnership with canine stars of the programme, Patch, the first Blue Peter dog Petra's puppy, and the border collie Shep, who inspired Noakes's catchphrase: "Get down, Shep!"

When he left Blue Peter, the BBC let the presenter keep Shep.

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And in the 1970s travelogue spin-off Go With Noakes, where he travelled around the UK with Shep alongside him.

The presenting team of Noakes with Purves and Valerie Singleton on the long-running BBC show, famous for making things out of sticky-back plastic, was seen as a classic line-up.

Noakes landed the Blue Peter job after notching up small TV parts in series like Redcap and Mogul, when editor Biddy Baxter decided to have a third presenter on the show to join Christopher Trace and Valerie Singleton.

His feats included ascending Nelson's Column without a safety harness using just a rickety wooden ladder, a sound problem meant he had to repeat the climb, a bruising encounter with a bobsleigh and a record-breaking skydive.

Noakes was also in the studio when Lulu the baby elephant caused chaos, defecated on the floor, knocked down her handler and barged into the presenters.

Born in Shelf, near Halifax, Noakes began his early adult life training as an engine fitter for the RAF before deciding to become an actor.

He wrote a children's book and appeared on reality shows, including Britain's Worst Celebrity Driver Live.

In 1982, he left England on a sailing trip to see the world, but he and his wife were shipwrecked in a hurricane.

In 2015, two years before his death, Noakes was found near his home in Majorca after going missing for more than eight hours.

He was discovered in a storm drain, after being spotted by a police helicopter, not far from his home and taken to hospital in the city of Palma, his wife Vicky said at the time.

Police in Andratx on the south west of the Mediterranean island were alerted to his disappearance as temperatures reached almost 36C (96.8F).

Noakes reunited with his former co-presenters for Blue Peter anniversary celebrations, including the time capsule dig in 2000.