Emily Mettam is not the only little girl who avidly collects Noddy toys and merchandise.

But there cannot be many other seven-year-olds whose collection includes items six times older than they are.

The latest additions to Haworth girl Emily's hoard of more than 100 Noddy items are a 1958 tube of toothpaste -unused and still in its box - and a 1955 toothbrush.

Emily's father, Steve Ferguson, of River Street, says each of the two items were a bargain at £15 each at a recent antiques fair.

Steve runs the Yorkshire Relics collectors' shop in Haworth and regularly takes his stall to antiques fairs. He is a keen collector himself, amassing a hoard of historic food packets over the past few decades which are now on display in his Main Street shop.

Emily became a fan of Noddy as a two-year-old when the BBC began screening its new version of the little toy's adventures.

Steve says: "First she got a Noddy cuddly toy to take to bed with her. Then when I was at fairs I started to look for something to bring home."

Steve has found items from the 1950s and 1960s such as toffee tins, a clock, a bendy car and EP records which were originally free gifts from Kelloggs.

"I've bought them when prices have allowed," he says. "I think it's good investment stuff."

Steve says that although Emily has lots of the 1990s videos, books and comics, she prefers the original version of Noddy.

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