BRITAIN’S oldest goldfish has died at the ripe age of 44.

George and another fish were won as a prize at a fair in 1974.

Keith won George at a fair in 1974 Credit: Newsteam - SWNS

Keith Allies gave George and Fred to his then 18-year-old girlfriend Mary.

The couple married five years later and had kept the goldfish ever since.

Despite having an expected lifespan of up to ten years, both fish spanned four decades.

Keith, 75, and Mary, 62, of Worcester, are devastated over George’s death.

I know it’s silly to cry over a goldfish but we’d had him so long Mary Allies

Mary said: “He was part of the family. Around a month ago I saw him struggling as he swam around the fishbowl and then he passed away on Wednesday.

“I called my daughter in tears.

“I know it’s silly to cry over a goldfish but we’d had him so long.” Mary first contacted The Sun in 2015 after reading about a goldfish called Splash, who was 38.

George and Fred were with the couple when they moved into their first home, then when they moved again, and when they had their daughter Emma.

Mary joked: “Emma moved out but the fish stayed.”

Fred died two years ago, aged 42 and Mary said George seemed to go downhill without him.

George lost more and more of his orange colouring until he was almost entirely silver.

She added: “It was sad to see him swimming around on his own.”

George is buried in the garden with Fred.

George started to lose his orange colour before he died

George the goldfish goes under the knife

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