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Paddington statue unveiled in creator's hometown

StudioCanal A statue of a Paddington Bear in a red hat and a blue coat holding a sandwich and sitting on a bench StudioCanal
One of 23 Paddington statues has been unveiled in Newbury

A statue of Paddington Bear has been unveiled in the hometown of creator Michael Bond.

The statue of the children's character, known for his love of marmalade sandwiches, was revealed on Northbrook Street in Newbury, Berkshire.

It is one of more than 23 being unveiled across the UK as part of the Paddington Visits trail and to celebrate the upcoming StudioCanal film, Paddington in Peru.

Louise Sturgess, portfolio holder for economic development and regeneration at West Berkshire Council, said the local link was an "extra special connection" for the town.

Getty Images Novelist Michael Bond to the right of the image - he is wearing a suit and has white hair - and a teddy of Paddington Bear to the left in a blue coat and yellow hat. The bear and Bond are positioned so they are looking at each other - side on from the cameraGetty Images
Michael Bond was born in January 1926 in Newbury

"We're really, really pleased to be able to bring him home," Ms Sturgess said.

"Who doesn't love Paddington?"

The trail has seen statues of the Peruvian bear appearing on benches in cities, towns and beauty spots across the UK and Ireland in October, including Land's End in Cornwall and The Bridges Shopping Centre in Sunderland.

In each he is wearing his signature red hat and blue duffle coat, and has a marmalade sandwich in his paws.

StudioCanal Mayor of Newbury Andy Moore - wearing a grey suit and with his ceremonial gold chain round his neck - sitting on the bench next to the statue of Paddington Bear and unveiling it from beneath a green, silk scarfStudioCanal
Mayor of Newbury Andy Moore officially revealed the statue
Two men and three women smiling with the statue of Paddington.
Local business owners and councillors also gathered for the unveiling

Paddington was brought to life by novelist Bond in 1958 and his stories have since been adapted for TV and film, and spawned a lot of merchandise.

Bond was born in January 1926 in Newbury, and raised in nearby Reading.

A prolific writer, he also created The Herbs, featuring Parsley the Lion, which became a successful TV series, and the tale-telling guinea pig, Olga da Polga.

And for adults there was Monsieur Pamplemousse, the retired detective turned restaurant critic and his bloodhound, Pommes Frites.

He died in June 2017.

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