VISITORS venturing into the Yorkshire Dales this weekend could be in for a surprise – a group of teddy bears have taken up residence on a landslide blocking part of a main road.

While some communities might grumble at the mound of earth and tree roots blocking the carriageway for the last five months, Upper Swaledale residents have seen the funny side and chosen to decorate the obstruction.

David McWhinney, from Gunnerside, is behind the latest installation on the landslip which features a group of teddies enjoying a picnic on tree stump seats and table.

And he is delighted that his suggestion for donations for the Great North Air Ambulance from people taking photographs has so far yielded £70.

“The idea came out the blue really,” he said.

“I put a pair of legs of a mannequin into the landslide when it first came down but someone took that away.

“The teddy bears have gone down really well, I saw people taking pictures so I put a little box out asking for a donation – people have been really generous.

“I live in Gunnerside and we have all got used to the landslide now, despite it blocking half of the road since it came down in Storm Desmond in December.

“It actually slows the traffic down so most people are quite happy about it – but I thought I would make it a bit more amusing.”

Mr McWhinney, 67, said photographs of the teddy bears’ picnic had been sent all over the world – and he plans to change the scene again to keep passing spectators interested.

He added: “It’s fantastic that something so simple can raise cash for the air ambulance – I didn’t expect to raise very much so £70 is wonderful.”

The landslide is on the B6270 near Low Row, at Rowleth Wood, and North Yorkshire County Council said work had not started to remove it due to the unstable ground.

A spokesman said: “Works to stabilise the embankment have not yet begun due to a recommendation that the land be given time to dry out substantially.

“Because of the prolonged wet weather during the early part of 2016, there were concerns of further slippage, which would be a hazard to the work force.”