THE latest arrivals in North Yorkshire have transformed their new home into a real piece of teddy heaven.

For every bear that ever there was – or so it seems – has moved into Newby Hall near Ripon, courtesy of broadcaster Gyles Brandreth.

The former MP and his wife Michele Brown are true arctophiles – bear-lovers extraordinaire who, over the years, have built up one of the world’s largest collection of teddies.

And now those bears have found a permanent new home at Newby Hall, where a purpose-built Bear House will open to the public on Saturday.

Big and small, old and rare – the collection includes some of the most famous bears that have ever reached screen or print.

The original star of the Paddington 1970s animated TV series rubs shoulders with Harry Corbett's 1950s Sooty while Muppet Show stalwart Fozzie Bear - donated by Jim Henson himself – joins the original Children in Need's Pudsey bear.

From the world of literature comes the original “bear of very little brain”' Winnie the Pooh and the “Bear of Avon” - William Shakesbeare himself.

The collection also features a number of Very Important Bears such as Lynton, owned by Tony Blair; Francois, former French president Francois Mitterand's bear, Dame Barbara Cartland's bear, The Prince of Love, and Ragged, the much-loved bear of generations of the actor Richard Briers' family.

Many of the bears – and there are about 1,000 of them – are displayed in a series of specially-commissioned tableaux ranging from a classic picnic to a church wedding and even an Olympics scene in keeping with the 2016 games.

A family of Royal teddy bears wave to a crowd from their balcony, while a library scene features books such as Paw and Peace, Jane Bear, The Merry Bears of Windsor, and the Encyclopedia Beartannica.

“Teddy bears have been popular for more than a century and the world would be a sadder and less friendly place without them,” said Gyles.

“My own childhood companion, Growler, went absent without leave many years ago and has yet to return, however he sparked a lifelong interest in teddy bears.

“These bears are my pride and joy, a life time's collection.”