Children write to Paddington Bear, in Bury St Edmunds, to offer him a home as part of their work with tutor Tiffany Docking

The arrival of a beloved bear in Bury St Edmunds has captured the imagination – and caring nature – of children.

Students of Bury St Edmunds-based tutor Tiffany Docking have been writing to Paddington Bear at the arc Shopping Centre.

Tiffany, who previously worked at Guildhall Feoffment Community Primary School in Bury, said the marmalade-loving bear had ‘provided the best writing stimulus ever’.

Concerned Paddington was out in the cold with nowhere to stay, the youngest children have made ‘lost posters’ and written letters to Paddington offering him a home at Tiffany’s.

Meanwhile, the older children have written to either the local council or to STUDIOCANAL - which launched the statue - very concerned about what is to become of him.

Tiffany, 54, who was a primary school teacher for over 20 years, said: “This bear has got even the most reluctant writers keen!”

She said the children have been working on persuasion texts so used their most compelling arguments and persuasive language in the hope that Paddington can be rehoused at ‘Teacher Tiff's Tutoring’.

“When tutoring I am always seeking fun reasons to write, real and stimulating hooks that will grab my students' attention,” said Tiffany.

“Telling them about how Paddington Bear had come all the way from London and was now looking lost and lonely on a bench in the middle of Bury really caught their attention.”

Paddington is set to be at the arc for a long stay.

All pictures are by Georgina Little Photography.