A date has been announced for the unveiling of a statue of marmalade-loving bear Paddington in the North East.

The "Paddington Visits" statue will be revealed in Sunderland on October 7, at the Bridges Shopping Centre, between 10am and 11am.

This statue is part of a UK and Ireland-wide trail of Paddington Bear statues, announced by STUDIOCANAL.

The trail is set to coincide with the release of the bear's latest film, "Paddington in Peru."

Each statue is carefully crafted, featuring Paddington's iconic red hat, blue duffle coat, and a marmalade sandwich in paw.

They are designed to sit on benches, inviting fans to join Paddington for a chat, a sandwich, or even to pen a postcard to Aunt Lucy.

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Actor Hugh Bonneville, who plays Mr Brown in the Paddington films, said: "I am thrilled to reveal we are going to be unveiling a number of benches across the UK, all featuring a statue of our beloved bear.

"Ahead of the new film, fans, families and friends can sit down and have a chat with the marmalade-loving bear, so watch this space for more information about Paddington... coming to a bench near you."

The trail, which includes locations such as Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool, Edinburgh, and London, will lead up to the release of "Paddington in Peru" in cinemas on November 8.

In this new adventure, Paddington returns to the Peruvian jungle to visit his Aunt Lucy at the Home for Retired Bears.

STUDIOCANAL invites fans to join Paddington on the benches for a spot of tea or a sandwich.

This initiative aims to bring Paddington closer to his fans, allowing them to share in his adventures.