PADDINGTON Bear has asked me to thank readers of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph for helping to mark his birthday in style and for raising lots of money for his favourite charity - Action Research.

Thousands of people celebrated by holding their own 'Bring Your Bear Party.'

I helped to open the sacks of mail which have been arriving following the Bring Your Bear campaign and I saw the donations in the envelopes.

All the money will go towards Paddington's Suitcase Challenge - raising £1 million for research into children's diseases. Thank you again.

JENNY POWELL, for Action Research, North Parade, Horsham, West Sussex.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.