Shaggy and Scooby still going strongShaggy and Scooby still going strongIt's no shaggy dog tale - Scooby-Doo has become the most prolific cartoon of all time.       

Those meddling kids and their pooch have overtaken The Simpsons as the cartoon comedy series with the most episodes - a huge 350.

Homer and his family of misfits had held the title with an almost as impressive run of 335 shows.       

American animation giants Hanna-Barbera first unleashed Scooby, Shaggy, Velma, Fred and Daphne on the US screens way back in 1969.       

It had been due to called either Mysteries Five or Who's Scared with Scooby, real name Scoobert, only having a minor role.       

But TV bosses were worried that in that form it would be too scary for children, so decided to give the Great Dane the lead role and name it after him.       

And in 1979, Scooby's feisty nephew Scrappy joined the gang and their Mystery Machine van.       

Third in the all-time cartoon list is Tom and Jerry with 209 episodes then, with 166 shows, are Stone Age family The Flintstones followed by Disney's Mickey Mouse on 120.       

Scooby's achievement will be officially recognised in the 2006 Guinness World Record book.