SHAUN the Sheep-loving sheepdog Robbie has been sent a goodie bag of treats by movie producers Aardman Animation.

The 11-year-old border collie, who has been given a new DVD of the Shaun the Sheep series by his owners on every birthday since it began, also received a copy of A Close Shave, the 1995 Wallace and Gromit film in which Shaun was first introduced.

The team at the award-winning stop motion animation studio were so impressed with the dedication of their number one canine fan they Tweeted his story to share with other Shaun enthusiasts: “Best news story ever? Meet Robbie the sheepdog, who is addicted to watching Shaun the Sheep!”

Meanwhile Richard ‘Golly’ Starzak, the director of both the film and the TV series, told the Daily Echo: “Shaun’s impressed with Robbie’s good taste, as his sheepdog friend Bitzer only watches Come Dine with Me and the Great British Bake Off.”

Robbie’s owner Richard Smith, who lives with his wife in Burley in the New Forest, said the family were surprised and delighted with the presents.

“It is very nice of them to send Robbie a gift,” he said.

“They sent a wonderful Shaun the Sheep fluffy toy, two DVDs, a bag and a set of badges. It is a very nice gesture from them and we are very grateful.”

Mr Smith, who is still hoping to take Robbie to the cinema to see the film, raised the dog from birth while working up in Scotland.

Robbie worked alongside him herding sheep for several years, hence his fascination with ovine mammals.

The feature film of British stop-motion animation Shaun the Sheep was released to critical acclaim earlier this month.