CARTOON character Lobey Dosser who found fame in the Evening Times is to be brought back to life at the West End Festival.

The cowboy sheriff and his sidekicks Fairy Nuff, Rank Bajin GI Bride and Wee Big Ned were favourites with readers between 1949 and 1955.

A statue to celebrate Lobey was erected in Woodlands Road and will soon be back in place following renovation.

Two years ago, book seller Duncan Comrie decided to write a play about the cartoon characters for the West End festival.

And this year they will be back bigger and better in Showdown at the Last Chance Saloon thanks to a team of professional actors.

Mr Comrie, who is a book seller by trade and has a Doctorate in art history, contacted West End Festival organisers when an annual celebration to the cartoon character was stopped

He said: “It was suggested I continue the tradition so I decided to write a new play and bring Lobey Dosser and the other characters up to date and make it relevant.”

Mr Comrie, 57, said he was attracted to the cartoon strip because of creator Budd Neill’s combination of wit, charm and good humour.

He added: “I have met many people who read the original cartoons in the Evening Times and spoke very highly about them.

“The cartoon strip was the highlight of their day and when they got the paper they would go straight to the page where they could find Lobey Dosser.

“The constant irritant was Rank Bajin and in the new play he has a cunning scheme to make all the residents of Calton Creek go back East and has a few tricks up his sleeve to persuade them but Lobey Dosser is defending the West.

“It relates to the present constitutional argument about leaving or staying and raises awareness of what is going on. The play is satire, entertainment and fun but is also poignant.”

Lobey and his chums can be seen at the Pearce Institute on Govan Road on Thursday, in the Dram on Woodlands Road on Saturday June 18 and at Partick Brewing on Dumbarton Road on Thursday June 23.