Children at Martin Frobisher Infants and Lee Brigg Infants joined schools across the country to celebrate Paddington Bear’s 50th anniversary and to raise money for Action Medical Research.

Both schools invited the children to bring along their own teddy bears to join in the fun.

Teddies belonging to Lee Brigg Infants pupils spent the week in school and paid £1 for their “board and lodgings”.

Headteacher Mrs Wassell said: “We have been involved with the charity for a number of years now because of the links they have with little children.”

The school will end the week with a teddy bears’ picnic and hopes to raise more than £100.

Mrs Wassell said: “The children love to bring in their teddies. It has helped with their speaking and listening because the children like to tell their friends their bears’ names and things about it.”

The children at Martin Frobisher Infants held a Bring your Bear day last Friday and each donated £1 to the charity.

They raised £137.

Headteacher Elaine Slow-ther said: “Bring your Bear is a way to raise vital funds for the Touching Tiny Lives Campaign to help sick and vulnerable babies. “Throughout the day the children participated in fun activities.”