Charley the Cat is UK's No. 1 Public Info Film

A scruffy ginger cat that warned millions of children about the dangers of strangers and matches has been voted the nation's favourite public information film. Dozens of memorable films created by the Government's Central Office of Information (COI) are being dusted off as part of its 60th anniversary celebrations.

Six short films featuring Charley, a moggy with the voice of the late comedian Kenny Everett, have been screened since 1973. Now thousands of nostalgic viewers have voted the series their favourite public information film from the past 60 years.

Charley was followed in the poll by Tufty the Squirrel, Joe and Petunia, Dark and Lonely Water and the Green Cross Man. They carried messages from road safety to the dangers of worn tyres, ways to save water and how to survive a nuclear blast.

Originally shown in cinemas, the films highlighted many of the most important social issues of the day. With the growth of TV in the 1950s, the films became shorter and snappier, delivering memorable messages. Some have now become household phrases such as "cough and sneezes spread diseases", "don't drink and drive", and "clunk click".

Today's films cover issues from climate change to anti-bullying advice and how to shop safely on the internet. COI chief executive Alan Bishop said: "We know that people hold very fond memories of the films.

"Charley the cat is a great example of the importance of the films we produce and I'm delighted that he has been voted 'the nation's favourite'."

Gavin Houtheusen, of The National Archives, said: "The Public Information Films exhibition shows the face of Britain from the past 60 years - a complete social commentary of the issues facing individuals from Land's End to John O'Groats.

"There is a film on the exhibition for everyone, from driving to swimming, from building new towns to bullying."

The poll was run on the BBC news magazine website, in association with The National Archives and COI. More than 25,000 people voted for their favourite film from a short list of 23, including clunk click with Jimmy Savile and Rolf Harris teaching children how to swim.

Charley received 9,100 of the votes to win.In total, six Charley films were made, including Don't Play with Matches, Don't Go with Strangers and Mummy Should Know. A generation of children grew up on with the phrase "Charley says" and the catchphrase was used in a dance record by The Prodigy in the early 1990s.

Giles Wilson, of BBC news magazine website, said memories of some of the films are extremely enduring. He said: "Featuring the public information film festival online has been great fun for all of us.

"The response from people visiting the festival was fantastic and the huge volume of votes we received was among our best. Our own particular favourite was Reginald Molehusband - the film which has mysteriously gone missing from everyone's archives. Its appearance at number six in the rankings is fantastic - it shows how enduring the memories of these films really are."

To view Charley and the top twenty public information films, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/films

The complete results of the public information film vote were:

1 Charley Says

2 Tufty the Squirrel

3 Joe and Petunia

4 Dark and Lonely Water

5 Green Cross Man

6 Reginald Molehusband

7 Protect and Survive

8 Learn to Swim - Rolf Harris

9 Clunk Click - Jimmy Savile

10 Teenager learns to swim

Reginald Molehusband Did It – The Original Script

NARRATOR

“This is the story of Reginald Molehusband, married, two children, whose reverse parking was a public danger (brakes and gears crunching). People came from miles just to see it. Bets were laid on his performance. What he managed to miss at the back, he was sure to make up for at the front. Bus drivers and taxis changed their routes to avoid him. Until the day that Reginald Molehusband did it right (sound of reversing). Not too close, far enough forward... come on Reginald... and reverse in slowly... come on.... and watching traffic... (applause from watching crowd) and park perfectly! Well done Reginald Molehusband, the safest parker in town.”