A BROTHER and sister have revealed the heartwarming story of how Bradford-born Sooty creator Harry Corbett used his much-loved children's characters to help them after their mum was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Business owner Vicky Golding, 49, and her brother Max Jowett, 51, a retired police officer, were gifted the genuine Sooty, Sweep and Soo puppets back back in the 1970s - and they are now tipped to fetch thousands when they go under the hammer next month.

The pair believe Mr Corbett reached out to help their family due to their mother's illness - and the fact that he knew their father well.

Mum-of-two Mrs Golding said: “My father, Derek Jowett, was Harry Corbett’s independent financial advisor for many years and they became good friends. I think they got to know each other in the 1960s. I have a photo of them together.

“We lived in Otley and Harry lived in nearby Guiseley. My dad earned a good reputation as a financial expert and worked with a few people connected to the showbiz industry. I also met Harry’s son, Matthew Corbett."

She added: “I remember Harry coming to our house in Otley and entertaining us with Sooty shows. Knowing dad so well, he must have been touched by our plight. Max and I were only small when mum became poorly. He also gave us a set of vintage puppets. I played with Soo all the time. Max used to play with Sooty a lot. Sweep got a bit left out. Harry told us the puppets had been on the Sooty TV show."

The siblings were only young when their mum, Jackie, died in 1980.

"Sadly, my dad is no longer around to ask as he died in 1999, but I imagine Harry wanted to cheer us up due to mum’s illness," Mrs Golding said.

“The puppets have been stuck in a box for around 45 years and we thought it would be nice for them to go to someone who would treasure them or even go on display in a museum. They deserve to be seen and enjoyed."

Mrs Golding has had her own fight with breast cancer, but was successfully treated, and plans to make a donation to Macmillan Cancer Care from the proceeds of the sale.

Harry Corbett invented Sooty in 1948 after buying a puppet for 7/6 (37p) during a holiday in Blackpool to entertain his children. The Sooty Show has a place in the Guinness Book Of Records as the longest-running children’s television show ever. The Harry Corbett Sooty, Sweep and Soo puppets are set be sold on November 19 at Hansons, Heage Lane, Etwall, Derbyhire, with a guide price of £5,000-£7,000.To find out more, email charleshanson@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk