Less than two years ago, hardly anyone at Fairview Community Academy in Wigmore had heard of the iconic BBC programme, Blue Peter.

Today, remarkably, 74 of them have got one of its s coveted badges in a year that celebrates the 60th anniversary of the longest-running children's show in the world.

Blue Peter fever swept the school in Drewery Drive when the former head teacher asked in assembly if anybody had been awarded one of the distinctive shield-like emblems.

Out of the 600-plus children, only one - Emma Hughes, 11 - put her hand up.

Emma started a trend and, with schoolmates jumping on the bandwagon, some now have multiple badges in recognition of a variety of skills.

Teacher Robin Halls, 53, said: "It just seemed to snowball and has really captured everyone's imagination to rise to the challenge.

"I watched it as a child in the days of Valerie Singleton, John Noakes, Shep the dog and the Blue Peter Garden.

"It is a great magazine-type programme and teaches young people about what is going on in the world which is particularly useful if perhaps their parents don't follow the news.

"The badge system also encourages creativity and use of imagination and lot of it is paper rather than computer- based."

Emma, a keen gymnast, got her first badge when she was six and was inspired by the 2012 London Olympics. Both her parents, Jenny and David, watched as children but neither got a badge.

Jenny, from Wigmore, said :"Both Emma and her older sister Megan got badges. Perhaps they have fulfilled a childhood dream of mine. Emma really seems to have started something at the school. I am very proud of her.

"The magic of Blue Peter is that is very on topic. I used to love the adventures the presenters went on, like going up the Amazon."

Emma, who is moving on to Rainham School for Girls in September, went on to take her silver in which she had to say what the " great" was in Great Britain. Emma was recovering from dental surgery and she chose the doctors and nurses.

Most would agree that Blue Peter has become part of British culture. And, with that infectious nautical tune' The Sailor's Hornpipe, still whirring around many a 50 somethings' heads it will be with us for many years to come.