IN real-life they were among James Herriot's most engaging customers; endearing and infuriating in almost equal measure.

The well-to-do Mrs Pumphrey and her impossibly cosseted pet Tricki-Woo were among the public's favourite characters in the books and TV shows.

Now they look set to find a new legion of fans as they become permanent residents of the vet's old surgery in Kirkgate, Thirsk, now the home of the World of James Herriot museum.

The Mrs P of the books is widely believed to have been a composite of two of the local clients of the real James Herriot, Alf Wight.

The model was based on a life-cast of Hambleton's museum officer Margi Tipton while tourism manager David Shields modelled as the TV cameraman.