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| Endal is very proud of his Blue Peter badge, as is his partner, Allen Parton. |
RECENTLY in the British national media was a story about the abuse of the Blue Peter (BP) badge scheme, which allowed the holders to gain free access to many of the UK's main attractions. The cost savings that can be made are considerable, so the BP badges suddenly became an item much-sought-after by the unscrupulous. Sadly because of this, an all too familiar institution was drawn in to the seedy world of the black market. Blue Peter badges were also being sold on e-Bay until the BBC was forced to take action over this abuse of badge privileges. Initially the BBC stopped all badge privileges until a solution to the problem could be found.
Well, now a solution has been found and all genuine Blue Peter badge holders are being issued with their very own official ID card to go with the badge. Uniquely, one holder of the highest award, a Gold Blue Peter badge, is none other than Labrador Endal who received his badge for saving the life of his human partner Allen Parton four years ago.
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| Now Endal has his own ID card to go with his badge. |
The then producer Rob Unsworth said: "A gold Blue Peter badge is the programme's highest accolade, only awarded for outstanding achievements or for saving a life. Endal deserves one on both counts and we're delighted to recognise his incredible talents this way. He really is an exceptional dog."
Endal is only the second dog to receive a gold badge in the programme's history - the first was long-serving Blue Peter dog Bonnie, in 1999.
So Endal can once again officially visit all the UK's major attractions and gain free entry, now that he has received his official ID card.
