AN assortment of well-cuddled teddies and their little owners took part in a giant picnic with an educational theme.

About 60 youngsters took their furry friends to the home of Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, to learn about the importance of trees to animal survival.

Wildlife conservation staff helped the children, from Priors Mill School, Billingham, to enact a story of real bear survival, using the teddies as stand-ins.

Maureen Tosh, a leader with the trust, said: "The idea was to tell them the consequences for wildlife if trees are chopped down. We have done it an entertaining way and hope the children will take on the message and perhaps pass it on to their friends and family.

"They were asked to bring their teddies because we wanted them to have something they cared about. When their teddies were taken away from them to illustrate the dangers of real life, the children were very alarmed, their faces dropped when they discovered their bears were missing.''

The event was held at Bellamy Pavilion, Kirkleatham Old Hall, near Redcar.