TINY teddy bears raising money for children living with cancer proved to be a success across Bury after £1,600 was collected.

The miniature bears, in a variety of colours, were sold at £1 a time in aid of children's charity CLIC (Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood) during the national awareness month in December.

Fundraiser Dawn Fidler, of Walshaw Road, Bury, enlisted the help of 25 volunteers to sell the bears after learning about the charity while her son, Joshua Wilson, was undergoing chemotheraphy for a brain tumour at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. In total they sold 1,600 bears, more than trebling the target of 500.

Dawn said: "With spending so much time on the oncology wards for chemotheraphy for Joshua, I wanted to learn more about the charity and how I could help with fundraising. The bears were so popular and sold so well we smashed our target and I was really pleased. I want to thank everyone who helped by selling the bears."

In the north west, more than 8,000 bears have been sold and the money raised will help fund three social workers at Christie Hospital and the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. It will also help provide 70 care grants or families dealing with cancer.

For more information about CLIC, contact the north west fundraising manager, Tammy Urwin, on 0161 868 0077, or visit www.clic.org.uk