The Dundee-based publisher will issue a special 75th anniversary edition on 4 December, which will be its final printed weekly edition. The Dandy Annual will contnue to be printed.

DC Thomson had remained tight-lipped this week as news of the potential closure of the title circulated on social-media networks.

However chief executive of publishing Ellis Watson responded angrily to the rumours this afternoon.

"I’m absolutely livid that we’ve had an internal leak about what’s in the pipeline for one of our most popular titles. We’re counting down 110 days until the big 75th anniversary bash and we’re working on some tremendously exciting things.  
 
"I’ve closed down loopholes to ensure much tighter internal security.  We’ve heard about people trying to find out the plans by hacking into www.dandy.com so we’ve taken it all offline and moved in to core project offices.  We’re in lockdown.

"Dan has certainly not eaten his last cow pie.  All of The Dandy’s characters are just 110 days away from a new lease of life."

Ellis continued: "On 4 December , we’ll publish our 75th anniversary edition – and now that the cat’s out of the bag - I can confirm that this will be our last print edition.  It’s what comes online then that will set the tone for the next 75 years and that’s why I’m so livid these plans nearly leaked."

First published on 4 December 1937 the weekly title, printed by Bicester-based BGP, follows the adventures of household names such as Desperate Dan and Banana Man.

Sales peaked at just over two million per issue in April 1950, but despite a number of re-launches in recent years, readership has steadily declined against a backdrop of growing competition and online publications.

The last ABC figures registered for July to December 2011 revealed that average circulation during that period had dropped to just 7,489.