50-year milestone for Paddington

Paddington Bear dusted off his duffle coat for his 50th birthday celebrations

Paddington Bear fans have held a party in London to mark the popular character's 50th anniversary.

The first story was published in 1958, when the bear was found at Paddington station with a note attached saying: "Please look after this bear."

More than 200 local schoolchildren attended the party, which was held near the railway station.

Paddington was guest of honour at the event, which raised money for the charity Action Medical Research.

New novel

The charity has a fundraising campaign called Touching Tiny Lives, which has already raised more than £3m to help vulnerable babies.

Karen Jankel, daughter of Michael Bond, creator and author of the Paddington Bear series of books, was also invited to the party.

The well-loved bear, known for his duffle coat and hat, has featured in dozens of books and had his own BBC TV series.

Bond's latest book Paddington Here and Now, the first new novel in three decades, was published earlier this month.

Last year he revealed the book would be about the marmalade-loving bear, famously from darkest Peru, being arrested and interrogated over his immigration status.