FOR teddy bears with any sense of fun there was only one place to be - out enjoying themselves in the autumn sun.

Bears of all shapes and sizes gathered at Queen Mary's School, at Baldersby Park, near Thirsk, on Wednesday when their young owners enjoyed a picnic.

Three and four-year-olds at the school bought along their bears to join in lessons for the day.

Head of early years Mary Jane Foster said: "We have been reading Jez Alborough's book 'Where's My Teddy?' and the children have been so enthusiastic that we decided it would be fun for them to bring their bears to school for a picnic.

"We do have a school teddy, Bertie Baldersby, which the children in turn take home to look after, as part of learning about the importance of caring for others."

* Queen Mary's, which takes pupils from aged three to 16 years, was recently praised in a report by the Director of Education for North Yorkshire County Council and was placed in the top category - described as highly effective - for its early years work.