After 10 months in office, President Barack Obama has granted his first pardon - to Courage, a 45lb turkey spared from the Thanksgiving dinner table.

Accompanied by daughters Sasha and Malia, Obama stood under the North Portico of the White House to honour a holiday tradition that dates back to 1947 - receiving a bird from the National Turkey Federation.

"I'm told Presidents Eisenhower and Johnson actually ate their turkeys," said Mr Obama. "You can't fault them for that; that's a good-looking bird."

On the Thanksgiving holiday, the last Thursday in November, many Americans have turkey for lunch or dinner.

President George HW Bush was the first to officially pardon a turkey, an annual event at the White House.

Mr Obama joked about wanting to forgo the tradition and eat Courage.

"Thanks to the interventions of Malia and Sasha - because I was planning to eat this sucker - Courage will also be spared this terrible and delicious fate," he said.

Mr Obama said he wished all American service members at home and abroad a happy Thanksgiving, speaking of the "tremendous honour it is to serve as commander in chief of the finest military in the world".

After his remarks, the turkey was lifted to a table and Mr Obama raised his hand over its head to deliver a mock-serious pardon. "You are hereby pardoned," he said.

Obama said Courage would spend the rest of his life in "peace and tranquility" at a Disneyland amusement park.