A statue of Paddington has been officially unveiled in Penrith this morning.
Across the country, from John o’ Groats to Land’s End, identical statues of the famous bear have been installed on 20 benches ahead of a new film, Paddington in Peru, set to be released in cinemas on November 8.
Penrith – near the home of the World Famous Marmalade Awards at Dalemain, where Paddington is a regular visitor – is the only Cumbrian location chosen to host a Paddington bench.
Ahead of the official unveiling there were speeches given by Doug Lawson, the mayor of Penrith, Darren Broad, chair of Penrith BID, and Jane Hazel McCosh, of Dalemain.
Pupils from Stainton Primary School sung the Marmalade Song, which they perform every year at the annual Marmalade Awards festival and was specially composed for the festival 20 years ago.
