WHO could resist Paddington, the world’s most loveable bear? Certainly no shoppers in Alton Sainsbury’s!

Padington was doing his bit for a fundraising drive for Action Medical Research for Children, led by Karen Brown.

Karen, owner of Tootsies nursery in Farnham and Bordon, brought along Action Medical Research mascot Paddington, who attracted a crowd as her team – husband Russell, Jo Beardsley, Russell Brown and Ali Morris – greeted shoppers and rattled tins to raise nearly £600 for the charity.

In July, Karen and her team will be embarking on a 300-mile charity cycle ride from London to Paris.

As none of them have cycled more then 60 miles in a day the ‘Paris Pedallers’ know what a big challenge the ride will be, but they are determined to raise £9,000 between them.

Karen and Russell’s teenage son, Sullivan, who has asthma, is the face of the fundraising campaign.

She said: “We have always chosen Action Medical Research for Children as our designated charity for most events we fundraise for. It’s a charity that links to so many childhood illnesses.”